Frühjahr 2026: Steigende Energiekosten belasten die wirtschaftliche Erholung
The RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research has lowered its economic forecast for Germany. Economic researchers expect GDP growth of 0.9 percent for 2026 and 1.2 percent for 2027. Compared to the December forecast, this represents a downward correction of 0.1 and 0.2 percentage points, respectively. The ongoing conflict with Iran is responsible for this. Sharply rising energy prices are not only making intermediate goods and production more expensive in industry. Consumers are also spending more on gasoline, diesel, and gas - money that is then lacking elsewhere. Looking back at 2025, the German economy grew by a surprisingly significant 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter. This was driven primarily by government spending. Public investment in equipment rose by 38 percent compared to the previous quarter. Private consumption also expanded strongly, despite a decline in employment.
Schmidt, T., N. Benner, B. Blagov, M. Dirks, N. Isaak, D. Grozea-Helmenstein, R. Jessen, S. Kotz, C. Krause, P. Schacht-Picozzi and K. Weyerstraß (2026), Frühjahr 2026: Steigende Energiekosten belasten die wirtschaftliche Erholung. RWI Konjunkturberichte, 77, A01