It’s a formula to introduce pension cuts through the back- door.

Consumers don’t have that much money to spend. There will be new jobs in Germany in the second half of the year. There will be a recovery, but it will be a lot slower than...

The numbers are very positive, as they are much stronger than expected. It signals an economic upturn in the coming quarters.

Even if the negotiations on a grand coalition are successfully concluded … we expect this government will stay in power for only a short period of time.

Accelerating world trade is proving a boon to German exports. The recovery is broadening; no doubt the optimism is warranted.

Made in Germany is a big trademark, and the products are heading to the U.S., Eastern Europe and Asia. Germany still depends on sales abroad, but the recovery is broadening.

It was a small but positive surprise.

A higher retirement age is unavoidable but Merkel must do more to ensure the system’s viability.

I wouldn’t go as far as to say Germany is the reform engine of Europe, but it is making slow progress.

German companies will start feeling the pressure on their margins. It was a long winter, consumers used more energy and the same applies to companies. We expect energy prices to retreat somewhat in the second...

The order backlog has risen, and this is supporting manufacturing. Exports should continue to drive growth while the domestic economy remains weaker.

The weather wasn’t very good in March. That’s a distortion and a short-term effect that’ll go in the opposite direction in April or May.

The agreement is lower than expected and it’s good news for Germany and for the euro zone because the ECB will have one reason less to raise interest rates. The whole package entails a total...

There probably will be only tentative reforms in France now, if any at all, until the 2007 election. And whatever government emerges in Italy, it looks as if it will lack the broad mandate needed...