30.07.2026 – "The 0.2 percent growth is an encouraging signal but far from a breakthrough. Only thanks to massive public investments, largely financed by credits, has the German economy weathered the Iran shock better than feared. However, we are far from a self-sustaining recovery. The external economic environment remains challenging for companies. Supply chain bottlenecks, US tariffs, and significant, partly unfair competitive pressure from China are causing difficulties. Moreover, structural problems here at home persist, such as still-high energy and labour costs, high tax burdens, and excessive bureaucracy.

The federal government has announced various measures to improve economic conditions, but it must now implement the initial reform steps quickly and decisively. It is crucial for cost and bureaucracy relief to truly reach the companies. Only with improved conditions for business locations can trust in investments be restored—and fragile growth turn into a sustainable recovery over the long term."