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Business sentiment among German companies has barely improved this year after initial euphoria. The business climate index compiled by the Munich-based Ifo Institute rose by only about 2.8 points between January and November, falling significantly short of previous years’ figures, the institute announced on Thursday. This is practically tantamount to stagnation. The current business situation […]

Rising natural gas prices in the US are triggering a chain reaction on international markets. The sharp increase is not only affecting North America – costs for consumers in Germany are also rising noticeably again. An early onset of winter, record-high exports, fluctuating gas prices, increasing taxes and levies, and global energy supply are shaping

The economic impact of US tariffs and political instability has been less severe than expected. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) confirmed its forecast of 3.2 percent for global growth this year. “The global economy has been resilient this year, despite the anticipated slowdown due to increasing trade barriers and significant political uncertainty,”

The United States is launching an unprecedented investment offensive in the energy sector. Plans include the construction of ten large-scale nuclear reactors to meet the rising electricity demand from data centers, AI applications, and industrial projects. Officially, funding is to be provided in part by a multi-billion-dollar pledge from Japan – but given Tokyo’s chronic

Germany’s nuclear phase-out was, as is well known, decided more or less hastily after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. In retrospect, it is almost single-handedly decreed by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU). Today, it is considered arguably the most consequential energy policy decision in Germany in recent decades. (t-online 23.11.2025) Shutdown of Germany’s Nuclear Power

Rostock is mired in a deep budget crisis that has been looming for some time. The city is now securing its employees’ salaries through short-term borrowing, as cost increases in several areas are spiraling out of control. The city administration describes this as an extraordinary step, but the situation stems from years of neglecting key

RTL Germany plans to cut approximately 600 jobs in response to declining TV advertising revenue and the expansion of its streaming business. The management has decided to “align the company and cost structures even more specifically with the streaming business,” the company announced on Tuesday. “As part of this focus,” the 600 positions will be

Municipal debt to banks or insurance companies amounted to €4,448 per capita at the end of 2024. This was 6.3 percent higher than the previous year, as the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden announced on Tuesday, based on a model calculation. In total, municipalities and municipal associations were indebted to the tune of almost €343.8

Renewable energy sources, which only provide electricity depending on the weather, require storage solutions. The focus here is on chemical battery storage, which is currently experiencing a boom worldwide and also in Germany. However, this rapid growth is causing various problems. According to experts, the two biggest are phantom projects and grid overloads. (fr, 25.11.2025)

The euro has formed the financial foundation of Europe since 1999, but its real value is shrinking dramatically. Today, the euro is worth only about 57 percent of its original value. Inflation, expensive food, and rising energy costs are putting families under considerable pressure. This decline in purchasing power stems directly from these developments. The

For years, a narrative has dominated energy policy that promises falling electricity prices as soon as the energy transition gains momentum and renewables dominate the market. However, global comparative data paints a completely different picture. In countries that are particularly aggressive in pursuing their transition projects, electricity prices are consistently rising, driving energy costs to

According to current figures, sales of electric cars in Germany are currently rising significantly. However, appearances are deceiving: As of November 2025, almost one in four new electric vehicle registrations is based on self-registrations by manufacturers or dealers. The latter, in particular, warn of two statistical effects: First, demand is artificially inflated, which could have

Swiss train manufacturer Stadler Rail has announced it will take legal action against the awarding of a multi-billion-euro contract by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) to its German competitor Siemens Mobility. “After a thorough review of the award decision,” Stadler “still cannot understand” why Siemens was commissioned by the SBB to build 116 double-decker trains,

Germany is losing another industrial base. The packaging company and global market leader DS-Smith plans to close five locations in Germany, putting around 500 jobs at risk. The company is reacting to an environment characterized by skyrocketing energy costs, paralyzing bureaucracy, a high tax burden, and a noticeable industrial crisis. The packaging specialist sees hardly

Truck manufacturer MAN is relocating key production steps from Germany to Krakow, Poland. The commercial vehicle group is restructuring its production processes to remain competitive in the long term. In addition to body construction for the new Traton modular system, painting and interior fitting will also be carried out in Poland in the future. The