Germany Considering New Debt to Revive its Economy?

A weakening economy is forcing the German government to consider taking on new debt in a bid to boost investment and revive growth.

Written by: Arslan Butt • Monday, August 19, 2019 • 1 min read

• Last updated: Monday, August 19, 2019

A weakening economy is forcing the German government to consider taking on new debt in a bid to boost investment and revive growth. While addressing the media at a news conference on Sunday, German finance minister Olaf Scholz hinted at the government setting aside around 50 billion euros for stimulus efforts.

Germany’s debt level is forecast to come down to around 58% of economic output in 2019 from 60.9% in 2018. This figure sits comfortably within the 60% limit for debt ceiling set by the EU, providing it a greater level of flexibility to introduce stimulus measures.

According to recent data releases, the German economy shrank 0.1% QoQ during Q2 2019, increasing concerns that its economy as well as that of the Eurozone were heading for a recession. According to Scholz, the weakness was driven by external risks such as global trade tensions which have reduced foreign demand and put a strain on Germany’s manufacturing sector.

Early on Monday, EUR/USD is exhibiting signs of bearishness over a stronger US dollar, slipping to trade at around 1.109 at the time of writing. Today’s Eurozone CPI data release could cause more movement in this forex pair this week.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More

Arslan Butt

Lead Markets Analyst – Multi-Asset (FX, Commodities, Crypto)

Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics. His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker. His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.