A record budget surplus totalling €58 billion was made by Germany's federal, regional and communal governments last year. But the economy has been slowing down, and there's widespread concern that's not about to change.
Revenues collected by the government — at federal, regional state and communal level — amounted to €1,543.6 billion. Offset against expenditures of €1,485.6 that left coffers €58 billion in surplus, an overhang of 1.7 per cent in terms of gross domestic product (GDP).
At €17.9 billion, the federal government recorded the biggest chunk of the overall surplus, followed by municipalities with €14.9 billion and Germany's 16 regional states – or Länder – with €11.1 billion.
On the expenditure side of the ledger, Germany had benefited from Europe's "very low" interest rates and a shrinkage of 8.5 per cent in its statutory debt burden.
Revenues from interest and investment returns, predominantly via the Bundesbank, had led to a "strong" 16.1 per cent increase, compared to the previous year, said Destatis.
Germany's economy slowed in the latter half of 2018, with a stagnant zero per cent rate recorded in the fourth quarter, narrowly avoiding recession. For the full year, however, GDP growth stood at 1.4 per cent.
Germany's overall gross domestic product in 2018 totalled €3.4 trillion, commercial production included.