Press release of December 10, 2009
The RWI has increased its September forecast for the growth of real gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010 by 0.4% to a total of 1.6%. The increase results mainly from the low statistical level going into the year; recovery otherwise continues to be seen as moderate. Consumer demand is expected to stagnate while company investments are expected to increase slightly. Expansion will be driven by ... (more information ...)

Press release of the project team of October 15, 2009
In autumn 2009 the low point of the worst economic recession since the Second World War seems to be behind us. There are many indicators for a recovery of economic activity. The situation on the world financial markets has improved considerably, confidence indicators are pointed upwards, new orders received have increased and rises in production are widespread. World trade, which ... (more information ...)

Press release of September 15, 2009
The German economy is reviving only gradually. The RWI has forecast a 5.0% decrease in real gross domestic product (GDP) for 2009, an increase of 1.4 percentage points over the forecast made in June 2009. For 2010 the RWI is expecting the GDP to grow by 1.2%. For the forecast period the institute additionally reckons with ... (more information ...)

Press release of July 15, 2009
A higher minimum wage for nursing assistants could result in a shortage of nursing care for 260,000 patients (about 16% of total numbers) by 2020, as cases of insolvency increase and a portion of the private equity is withdrawn from Germany's nursing care market. That has been revealed by a special analysis of the data in the "Pflegeheim Rating Report 2009" (Nursing Home Rating Report 2009) by RWI, ADMED GmbH and HCB GmbH. The analysis shows that ... (more information ...)

Press release of June 29, 2009
Costly nursing homes are not the best ones and there are great price differences among regions. Numbers of nursing patients will continue to rise, resulting in increased demand for professionals. Those are some of the conclusions from the "Pflegeheim Rating Report 2009 - Konsolidierung voraus!" ("Nursing Home Rating Report 2009 - Progress in Consolidation") by RWI, ADMED GmbH and HCB GmbH. The report also indicates that the economic situation of nursing homes is likely to remain stable in the long term, even though excess capacities still currently exist. One threat is seen in plans to ... (more information ...)

Press release of June 23, 2009
The RWI lowered its economic growth forecasts for 2009 and 2010 to -6.4% and 0.2% respectively, meaning a sharp downward revision compared to its March forecast. Nevertheless, the institute sees signs that the downward trend has decelerated and the bottom should be reached shortly. Foreign trade should once again ... (more information ...)

Press release of the project team of April 23, 2009
In spring 2009 the world economy is in the deepest recession since the Great Depression. The downturn intensified in the autumn fall into an utter collapse that rapidly affected almost all countries of the world. Extensive governmental programmes for the support of the financial sector and for reviving the economy have not been able to restore confidence in future economic developments. Indications of a cooling of world economic activity were already evident in 2007. At the beginning of last year, the economic weakening was still largely limited to the US. Thereafter, the downturn began also in the other industrialised countries. The dramatic sharpening of the situation on the financial markets in September 2008 that culminated in the bankruptcy of the investment bank Lehman Brothers touched off a drastic downturn in output that also affected ... (more information ...)

Press release of April 22, 2009
In addition to the economic situation of German hospitals, the fifth edition of the "Krankenhaus Rating Report" (Hospital Rating Report) investigated the effects of the financial crisis and the second stimulus package (Konjunkturpaket II) on clinics. On the average, the risk of insolvency had decreased slightly for these institutions in recent years up to 2007. Yet the risk probably rose sharply in 2008, only to drop back to the previously low level in the current year as a result of significantly higher revenues. That indicator is expected to worsen again in 2010 due to the impact of the financial crisis. The investment gap, ... (more information ...)

Press release of April 16, 2009
In Germany, 5.6% less raw steel was produced last year than in the previous year. RWI expects steel production to drop further in 2009 by 30% or more and then to increase by 4.2% in 2010. Steelworks are expected to work at extremely low capacity: 60% in 2090 and 65% in 2010. The number of workers employed by the iron and steel industry is forecast to decrease by 7,000 during the current year and by another 3,500 in 2010. Global steel production is likely to decline by 15% to 20% in 2090 and decrease slightly in 2010 as well... (more information ...)

Press release of March 23, 2009
The RWI considerably lowered its economic growth forecast for Germany in 2009 to -4.3%. A slight upward trend, at 0.5%, is expected for 2010. Contrary to the hopes of some, the financial crisis is thus having a stronger impact on Germany than on most other eurozone countries. Despite significantly greater numbers of employees being placed on part-time schedules, the number of employed is expected to drop by about 1.2 million in the course of the year as unemployment increases by 1.1 million ... (more information ...)

Press release of January 19, 2009
The insolvency risk faced by Germany's rehabilitation clinics was probably significantly reduced during 2007 and 2008. The reason, as revealed in the current "Reha Rating Report 2009" by RWI Essen, ADMED GmbH and HCB GmbH, was improved utilization of clinic capacities. According to the report, only about one-fifth of Germany's rehab institutions now face a high risk of insolvency, compared with almost a quarter in 2006. However, on account of costly collective agreements as well as the impact of the financial crisis and of the new health fund, the risk is likely to increase again from ... (more information ...)