Table of Contents:
The review of growth forecasts
The Bundesbank recently announced a downward revision of Germany’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecasts, highlighting a more complex economic situation than expected. The new estimates indicate a contraction of 0.2% for the current year, a drastic change from the previous forecast of an expansion of 0.3% formulated in June. For 2024, expectations were reduced to 0.2%, compared to the previously expected 1.1%
.
Statements by the president of the Bundesbank
Joachim Nagel, president of the Bundesbank, said during the presentation of the December forecasts: “The economic recovery has not yet materialized.” He emphasized that the German economy is facing not only persistent headwinds, but also significant structural problems. These factors are negatively affecting growth prospects, making the German economic situation more fragile than originally expected
.
Future prospects and structural challenges
Looking to the future, the Bundesbank expects moderate growth of 0.8% in 2026 and 0.9% in 2027, suggesting that the recovery will be slow and gradual. Structural challenges and headwinds will continue to play a decisive role in shaping Germany’s economic landscape in the coming years. The Bank of Italy has updated its GDP growth forecasts for 2024 to +0.5%, considering working days, signaling some caution even
in the Italian context.
Price trends in the United States
In November, import-export prices in the United States showed an increase, with import prices growing by 0.1% compared to the previous month and an annual increase of 1.3%.
Export prices, on the other hand, maintained a zero change, recording an increase of 0.8% year-on-year, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These data indicate some stability in the American market, but also an inflationary pressure that could influence future Federal Reserve decisions
.
Recent events in the publishing and financial landscape
In another area, the Exor holding announced the sale of the magazine La Provincia Pavese and its digital activities to the publishing group SAE. The agreement, which should close by April 2025, is subject to suspensive conditions and current regulations. In addition, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange closed sharply, with the Hang Seng Index recording a decrease of 2.1%, dragged down by the real estate and consumer goods sectors. Mainland Chinese stock exchanges also suffered similar losses, highlighting a climate of uncertainty in
Asian markets.
