According to the Federal Statistical Office, in September 2007 consumer prices rose noticeably by 2.5% as compared to September last year (calculations based on data provided by six Federal Laender). Back in August the increase in inflation had only been 1.9%. Thus, the rise in September is the highest annual inflation rate increase since September 2005 (+2.5%). Compared to August 2007, prices increased by 0.2% in September this year. more…

In August this year there were 39.71 million gainfully employed people in Germany. This is an increase by 638.000 (+1.6%) as compared to August last year. Thus, according to the Federal Statistical Office, the number of gainfully employed people reached its highest level since the German re-unification. Compared to July this year the number of employed people increased by 72.000 people (+0.2%). more…

As was reported by the Federal Statistical Office on the occasion of the World Tourism Day, the number of overnight stays in Germany in hotels with more than nine beds or at camping sites increased by 2% or 23.8 million over the first half of 2007. Most guests (3.4 millions) came from the Netherlands. more…

According to the Federal Statistical Office, the index for import prices in August 2007 was 0.6% lower than in the same month last year. This marks the first annual decrease since March 2004. The index for export prices was 1.6% higher in August this year than in August 2006 and remained unchanged as compared to July 2007. more…

According to the latest calculations by the the eco-association, the introduction of internet data retention will turn out to be much more expensive to the internet economy than so far assumed. For the storage of dynamic IP addresses and IP forwarding costs are expected to amount to 139 million Euros. Even more costly will probably be the storage of email data which may cost 155 million Euros. In addition there will be the costs for the storage of stock data and internet telephony data which could amount to 25 and 12.5 million Euros respectively. more…

The average potential for saving overhead costs in small and medium-sized entities (SMEs) amounts to about 20%, says Mr. Arnd Halbach, business development manager with »Expense Reduction Analysts« (ERA). This figure represents quite a lot of money which could increase the liquidity of SMS without taking out loans and thus interest-free. more…

Even though the real estate crisis and the upward revaluation of the Euro are currently causing quite a stir, the economic upswing in Germany is hardly affected by this, forecasts the Institute for the German Economy (IW) in Cologne. According to the IW´s latest estimates GDP will probably grow by 2.5% in real terms this year and by 1.9% in 2008. more…

According to the Federal Statistical Office, the order intake in the German main construction industry (companies with at least 20 employees) increased by 3.6% (adjusted for prices) in July 2007 as compared to July 2006. Order intake for structural engineering increased by 8.6% while those for underground engineering fell by 1.3%. more…

According to the german Bundesverband Informationswirtschaft Telekommunikation und neue Medien (BITKOM) and the Goldmedia consulting firm, TV over the internet (IPTV) is soon going to make a breakthrough. According to BITKOM experts, by the year 2012 about 2.5 million households could be using IPTV in Germany. Thus, besides cable, satellite and aerial yet another way of TV broadcasting would come into being. more…

According to the Federal Statistical Office, the index of production prices for industrial products was up by 1.0% in August this year as compared to August 2006. Thus, annual inflation once again decreased (Juli +1.1%, Juni +1.7%, Mai +1.9%). Compared to July 2007 the index increased slighty by 0.1%. more…