https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The European Union's mammoth trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur provisionally enters into force Friday, despite a pending court ruling on its legality. https://www.thelocal.de/20260501/blockbuster-eu-mercosur-trade-deal-enters-into-force Fri, 01 May 2026 09:52:06 +0200 blockbuster-eu-mercosur-trade-deal-enters-into-force Volkswagen's future is at risk without further cost-cuts, the company warned Thursday after profits plunged more than expected. https://www.thelocal.de/20260430/german-auto-giant-volkswagen-warns-of-more-cost-cuts-as-profits-plunge Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:17:28 +0200 german-auto-giant-volkswagen-warns-of-more-cost-cuts-as-profits-plunge Germany is set to continue taking on huge amounts of new debt each year for the foreseeable future as it continues to ramp up spending on defence and infrastructure. Meanwhile residents can expect a few new and increased consumption taxes. https://www.thelocal.de/20260429/more-debt-new-taxes-what-is-in-germanys-budget-plan-for-2027 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:41:14 +0200 more-debt-new-taxes-what-is-in-germanys-budget-plan-for-2027 German business morale dropped in April to its lowest level since the Covid pandemic as the Middle East war hit Europe's top economy hard. https://www.thelocal.de/20260424/german-business-morale-falls-to-lowest-level-since-covid Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:13:59 +0200 german-business-morale-falls-to-lowest-level-since-covid Defence and security-related firms for the first time have their own section at the world's top industrial fair in Hanover this week -- a sign of the times as Germany embarks on a massive rearmament drive. https://www.thelocal.de/20260423/the-german-army-joins-hanover-trade-fair-as-defence-industry-booms Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:17:32 +0200 the-german-army-joins-hanover-trade-fair-as-defence-industry-booms The German government on Wednesday halved its growth forecast for this year as the energy shock triggered by the Middle East war hammers Europe's biggest economy. https://www.thelocal.de/20260422/germany-halves-2026-growth-forecast-on-iran-war-fallout Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:18:23 +0200 germany-halves-2026-growth-forecast-on-iran-war-fallout Humanoid robots were on full display at an industry trade fair in Hanover this week. Chancellor Merz endorsed AI technologies as key to reviving German industry, but China still dominates the sector. https://www.thelocal.de/20260422/ai-powered-robots-offer-new-hope-to-german-factories Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:47:34 +0200 ai-powered-robots-offer-new-hope-to-german-factories German investor morale slid to its lowest level in over three years in April, a survey showed Tuesday, as the Middle East war threatens to snuff out a tentative recovery in Europe's top economy. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/german-investor-morale-lowest-in-over-three-years-amid-iran-war-fallout Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:51:16 +0200 german-investor-morale-lowest-in-over-three-years-amid-iran-war-fallout German exports rebounded more strongly than expected in February, official data showed Thursday, but there was a surprise slump in industrial production. https://www.thelocal.de/20260409/german-exports-were-up-in-february-but-industrial-output-fell Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:43:01 +0200 german-exports-were-up-in-february-but-industrial-output-fell Germany's top economic institutes have slashed its growth forecast and warned about a notable increase in consumer prices. So how much inflation is expected and what will the government do about it? https://www.thelocal.de/20260401/how-much-will-prices-rise-in-germany-as-impact-of-middle-east-war-deepens Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:49:46 +0200 how-much-will-prices-rise-in-germany-as-impact-of-middle-east-war-deepens Increased German government debt spending designed to boost infrastructure investment is being misused, economists charged Tuesday, warning that Berlin risked wasting a chance to revive its moribund economy. https://www.thelocal.de/20260317/economists-warn-german-government-is-misusing-investment-spending Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:00:33 +0100 economists-warn-german-government-is-misusing-investment-spending Germany's energy-hungry industries are sounding the alarm about the devastating impacts of the Middle East war as companies battle problems from surging power costs to snarled supply chains. https://www.thelocal.de/20260313/mideast-war-plunges-german-industry-into-crisis Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:12:39 +0100 mideast-war-plunges-german-industry-into-crisis The surge in energy prices triggered by the Middle East war will slow the struggling German economy's recovery, an economic institute warned Thursday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260312/mideast-war-to-brake-germanys-economic-recovery Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:50:33 +0100 mideast-war-to-brake-germanys-economic-recovery The number of Germans in employment is steadily falling as older workers retire. This makes foreign workers, including both skilled workers and working asylum seekers, increasingly important to the country's economy and social systems. https://www.thelocal.de/20260303/foreign-workers-increasing-in-all-sectors-in-germany-as-boomers-retire Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:43:38 +0100 foreign-workers-increasing-in-all-sectors-in-germany-as-boomers-retire In the Middle East energy exports to Europe have been disrupted by the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran that has spilled into surrounding regions. Economic experts are predicting a spike in inflation. https://www.thelocal.de/20260303/inflation-to-hit-eurozone-as-war-in-the-middle-east-disrupts-energy-flows Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:38:03 +0100 inflation-to-hit-eurozone-as-war-in-the-middle-east-disrupts-energy-flows German inflation unexpectedly slowed in February, official data showed Friday, bolstering expectations that the European Central Bank will keep interest rates on hold for some time. https://www.thelocal.de/20260227/german-inflation-unexpectedly-slows-in-february Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:24:06 +0100 german-inflation-unexpectedly-slows-in-february Despite downturns and stagnation, Germany remains the world's third largest economy for the third year running, according to a new study. But India is expected to jump ahead by the end of the decade. https://www.thelocal.de/20260225/germany-remains-worlds-third-largest-economy-but-india-may-overtake Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:49:05 +0100 germany-remains-worlds-third-largest-economy-but-india-may-overtake A proposal to let asylum seekers enter the German job market sooner has been welcomed by many lawmakers and economists, but critics warn that key exemptions and recent cuts to integration courses could undermine the effort. https://www.thelocal.de/20260224/is-germany-really-planning-to-let-more-asylum-seekers-enter-the-workforce Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:04:49 +0100 is-germany-really-planning-to-let-more-asylum-seekers-enter-the-workforce German business morale posted its biggest rise in almost a year in February, data showed Monday, boosting hopes that Europe's top economy could be emerging from the worst of its slump. https://www.thelocal.de/20260223/german-business-morale-sees-biggest-rise-in-nearly-a-year Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:58:34 +0100 german-business-morale-sees-biggest-rise-in-nearly-a-year A US Supreme Court ruling that sweeping tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump are illegal is a "strong signal for the rules-based trading system", German industry group BDI said Friday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260221/trump-tariffs-ruling-a-strong-signal-for-trade-rules-say-german-business Sat, 21 Feb 2026 16:19:39 +0100 trump-tariffs-ruling-a-strong-signal-for-trade-rules-say-german-business