

Amin Nasser says ‘system is already straining' and ‘replenishing inventories could take up to two years'

The German government plans an energy cost relief package for businesses and consumers worth €13.3 billion ($15.2 billion) in 2027, to be drawn from the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF), the finance ministry said on Wednesday.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz outlined a package of pension, tax and labour reforms on Thursday, along with measures to cut red tape that he said would boost growth, jobs and competitiveness while maintaining social welfare protections.

The number of people employed in German industry in 2025 fell to a 10-year low of just 6.6 million workers, a study by the German Economic Institute (IW) showed on Thursday.

Investor confidence improved unexpectedly sharply on hopes the conflict in the Middle East would end soon and energy prices would drop.

Germany may face around €1 billion euros in additional budget costs after the European Commission allowed stronger electricity price relief for industry than previously expected, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche told Handelsblatt on Tuesday.

An independent advisory panel urged the German government on Tuesday to channel more money from its €500 billion ($578.30 billion) infrastructure fund into future-focused areas, including research and development, digitalisation and energy infrastructure.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron have concluded that the companies involved in building a joint fighter jet are unable to reach an agreement, two German government officials told Reuters on Monday.