Europe – Germany

No Wonder German Workers Drag Down Retail Sales – And Much Of The Economy

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on No Wonder German Workers Drag Down Retail Sales – And Much Of The Economy

Not that 2013 was such a great year in Germany, economically speaking, with growth stalling at barely above the zero line. But it was a superb year for extracting taxes from hard-working people. And it shoved Germany deeper into two decades of retail quagmire.

German Economy Wobbles Between Shrinkage And Stagnation, Stocks Soar

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on German Economy Wobbles Between Shrinkage And Stagnation, Stocks Soar

Since 2012, German economic growth has been back where it was when Germany was called the “Sick Man of Europe.” Only this time, Germany has been anointed the model economy for others to follow and admire.

Lies, Damned Lies, and Banks: Deutsche Bank’s Whitewash Of “Senior Management”

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Lies, Damned Lies, and Banks: Deutsche Bank’s Whitewash Of “Senior Management”

Germany has its own JP Morgan, mired in a swamp of sordid scandals, investigations, lawsuits, and fines. Now a letter by the banking regulator was leaked that blasts Deutsche Bank’s internal investigation of the rate rigging scandal as a senior management whitewash.

LEAKED Confession: Cesspool Of Greek-German Corruption

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on LEAKED Confession: Cesspool Of Greek-German Corruption

Apparently, it has been impossible to sell Greece any weapons at all, not even a water pistol, without bribing officials at the Defense Ministry. But it takes two to tango. And in holier-than-thou Germany, the defense industry has been all too eager to dance with Greece.

This Ends In A “Planned Economy” – Bundesbank President

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on This Ends In A “Planned Economy” – Bundesbank President

When Jens Weidmann, President of the emasculated Bundesbank, speaks, central bankers and money printers worldwide stuff wax into their ears. “Caution,” he started out, “the euro crisis is far from over.” Then he committed central-bank heresy.

Germany’s Complex Export Religion In One Chart

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Germany’s Complex Export Religion In One Chart

Today we got another morsel from the German export smorgasbord, along with a beautiful long-term chart from the German statistical agency that says it all.

French Megabank: “Germany Should Leave The Eurozone”

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on French Megabank: “Germany Should Leave The Eurozone”

Suddenly, there’s a solution to France’s economic crisis. Unlike the cacophonous clamor from the far right to drop the euro, this one is attractively presented with graphs and in terms that even a French politician might understand. And it’s not contaminated by partisanship.

Extortion Over Minimum Wage In Germany: BMW, Daimler, VW Threaten to Offshore Production

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Extortion Over Minimum Wage In Germany: BMW, Daimler, VW Threaten to Offshore Production

Germany has neither a minimum wage nor a government. Someday it might. If not, there will be new elections, and Chancellor Merkel might get pummeled because she’d be blamed for them. So she’s trying to form a coalition with the left-leaning SPD on whose list of campaign promises was a decent minimum wage.

German Industry Dreads Getting Slammed By The Costs Of Green Energy

by Oilprice.com •  • Comments Off on German Industry Dreads Getting Slammed By The Costs Of Green Energy

By Scott Belinksi, Oilprice.com: In Germany, where renewable energy has been aggressively pushed, companies may soon lose an exemption from expensive renewable energy surcharges. Business leaders worry this will “destroy Germany’s industrial core.”

Are You Overweight EU Equities For The Big Recovery Yet?

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Are You Overweight EU Equities For The Big Recovery Yet?

There has been a symphony of calls for American investors to plow their money into European stocks. So, net inflows into European equity funds have set records, driven by euphoria about a presumed recovery. Equities soared. But turns out, reality has bad breath.