CURRENT PRESS RELEASES

The RWI slightly lowered its economic growth forecasts for 2010 in comparison with December 2009 by 1.6% to 1.4%; growth of 1.6% is anticipated for 2011. In the process, the impulses are primarily coming from the external balance for the time being. Domestic demand is predicted to gain force over the course of the coming year. It may have a stabilizing effect that the labor market situation has…

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 ...

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 ...

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patients (about 16% of total numbers) by 2020, as cases of insolvency increase and a portion of the private equity is withdrawn from Germany's nursing care market.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…

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…

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 ...

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.…

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 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…

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…