The German economy continues to grow. In the first quarter of 2017, the gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.6% on the fourth quarter of 2016 after adjustment for price, seasonal and calendar variations. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) also reports that, in the second half of the previous year, the GDP grew a little more moderately (+0.2% in the third and +0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2016).

Net lending of general government amounted to 23.7 billion euros in 2016 according to updated results of the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). In absolute terms, this was the highest surplus achieved by general government since German reunification. When measured as a percentage of gross domestic product at current prices (3,132.7 billion euros), the Maastricht ratio of general government was +0.8%. These are data based on the definitions of the European System of Accounts (ESA) 2010; they are used to monitor the budget situation in the EU Member States. 

At the end of 2016, the replacement value of fixed assets available for production in the national economy amounted to Euro 17.8 trillion. Households owned durable consumer goods - vehicles, furniture and other goods of household equipment - worth 1 trillion euros (almost 2 trillion euros on a gross basis).

Who are the main international trading partners of individual countries? This question is usually answered on the basis of cross-border trade flows. As an alternative, international work-sharing can be examined by looking at global value-added chains, as has been done by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on the basis of input-output tables. A major result obtained by the OECD is that some newly industrialising countries have a greater weight in international trade than is suggested by the foreign trade data collected according to the traditional concept. Also, the new OECD estimates put into perspective the widespread perception of some countries – such as China – as an overwhelming trading partner.

According to the Treaty establishing the European Community, the member states of the EU are obliged to avoid excessive government deficits (Article 104). That obligation was confirmed by the European Stability and Growth Pact when the EURO was introduced as a common currency in the participating member states. If certain reference values are exceeded in a member state, the excessive deficit procedure, as it is called, is triggered, at the end of which fines amounting to billions may have to be paid.