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  1. Germany
  2. ›
  3. Economy & public finances

German industry stalls

Registered unemployment is close to three million and industry, the engine of the German model, produces less than before the pandemic. The 500-billion-euro special fund for infrastructure, written into the Basic Law in 2025, is meant to revive investment. Output, orders, exports, unemployment: what the official series show.

Citoyen·Data as of Nov 12, 2026

Scope: Germany, compared with the European Union: monthly manufacturing production and new orders indices (Destatis), exports by destination, unemployed registered with the Federal Employment Agency, business electricity prices (Eurostat), to the latest data published.

This dossier is updated at least once a quarter with the new figures. Follow it to get a notification at each update.

Key points

Registered unemployed2.95 millionOct. 2026, against 2.18 million at the Nov. 2019 low
Fall in manufacturing output15%in Sep. 2026, against the 2018 average
Fall in energy-intensive industries20%in Sep. 2026, against 2021
Exports to China−13.4%over a year, cumulative Jan. 2026 – Sep. 2026
  • Industry produces less. In Sep. 2026, German manufacturing output is 15% below its 2018 average, while the European Union’s has returned to its 2021 level (100.5 in Aug. 2026, 2021 = 100).
  • Energy-intensive industries have fallen behind. Chemicals, metals, glass, paper: their output has fallen 20% since 2021 and 22% since 2018. German businesses pay €174/MWh for electricity excluding VAT in H1 2026, against €156/MWh on European average and €124/MWh in France.
  • Orders without a lasting recovery. New orders rebounded 4.4% in Sep. 2026 after a sharp fall, but remain 6% below their 2018 level.
  • China is buying less. Exports to China fell −13.4% over a year (Jan. 2026 – Sep. 2026); over 2019 – 2025 they were 15% below their 2019 level. Total exports nonetheless grew 4.3%.
  • Unemployment above three million. The Federal Employment Agency counts 2.95 million registered unemployed in Oct. 2026; the three-million mark, crossed in Aug. 2025 for the first time since Feb. 2015, has been exceeded 7 months since.
How to read these figures

The output and orders indices measure volumes, 2021 = 100, seasonally and calendar adjusted. Energy-intensive industries are a grouping defined by Destatis (chemicals, metals, glass and ceramics, paper, coke and refining). Orders swing a lot from month to month because of large orders (aircraft, ships): their trend is what matters.

Registered unemployed are those of the Federal Employment Agency, not seasonally adjusted: they rise every winter and fall in spring, hence the comparison with the same month a year earlier (2.91 million in Oct. 2025). This administrative figure differs from the ILO unemployment rate. Exports are in current euros, seasonally adjusted.

1. Output falling since 2018

German manufacturing output has been falling since 2018, with a slump in 2020 and a relapse from 2023, while the European Union’s has stabilised.

Manufacturing output, index 2021 = 100

Germany (Destatis) and the European Union (Eurostat), seasonally and calendar adjusted.

  • European Union
  • Germany

Source:Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), via DBnomics·Eurostat

Show the chart data
PeriodGermanyEuropean Union
Jan. 2015101.490.1
Feb. 2015102.292.1
Mar. 2015102.192.5
Apr. 2015103.192.0
May 2015103.592.6
Jun. 2015103.293.1
Jul. 2015104.793.3
Aug. 2015102.192.8
Sep. 2015102.292.9
Oct. 2015103.393.0
Nov. 2015102.092.8
Dec. 2015102.693.3
Jan. 2016104.394.9
Feb. 2016104.293.3
Mar. 2016103.292.5
Apr. 2016104.094.2
May 2016102.192.7
Jun. 2016104.293.7
Jul. 2016102.793.6
Aug. 2016104.393.6
Sep. 2016104.093.9
Oct. 2016104.994.5
Nov. 2016104.594.9
Dec. 2016102.294.6
Jan. 2017103.994.4
Feb. 2017105.095.6
Mar. 2017104.795.9
Apr. 2017106.296.2
May 2017106.496.9
Jun. 2017106.496.6
Jul. 2017107.297.6
Aug. 2017109.598.4
Sep. 2017108.698.2
Oct. 2017106.998.4
Nov. 2017110.8100.9
Dec. 2017110.1100.8
Jan. 2018109.799.8
Feb. 2018107.498.0
Mar. 2018109.098.2
Apr. 2018108.698.7
May 2018110.4100.0
Jun. 2018109.899.9
Jul. 2018107.798.5
Aug. 2018108.999.6
Sep. 2018108.198.9
Oct. 2018108.099.5
Nov. 2018105.998.2
Dec. 2018107.098.6
Jan. 2019106.899.3
Feb. 2019106.499.1
Mar. 2019107.599.3
Apr. 2019106.099.2
May 2019106.699.6
Jun. 2019105.498.0
Jul. 2019105.098.2
Aug. 2019105.398.4
Sep. 2019104.398.4
Oct. 2019103.699.0
Nov. 2019103.897.8
Dec. 2019101.396.2
Jan. 2020104.698.7
Feb. 2020105.498.1
Mar. 202094.286.9
Apr. 202073.369.6
May 202082.279.4
Jun. 202091.887.6
Jul. 202094.292.2
Aug. 202093.693.1
Sep. 202096.293.7
Oct. 2020100.096.0
Nov. 2020101.599.6
Dec. 2020101.498.6
Jan. 2021101.999.8
Feb. 202199.998.6
Mar. 2021101.099.9
Apr. 2021100.8100.4
May 202199.899.3
Jun. 202198.299.9
Jul. 2021100.6101.6
Aug. 202194.899.2
Sep. 202195.099.0
Oct. 202198.999.2
Nov. 202199.8100.7
Dec. 2021101.2102.4
Jan. 2022100.9102.1
Feb. 2022100.7102.8
Mar. 202295.4101.2
Apr. 202297.2101.0
May 202298.5103.6
Jun. 202299.7103.3
Jul. 202299.4101.8
Aug. 202298.6103.7
Sep. 2022101.0105.2
Oct. 2022100.4104.3
Nov. 2022100.9105.3
Dec. 202298.6102.9
Jan. 2023100.1104.5
Feb. 2023102.8105.3
Mar. 2023100.1102.4
Apr. 202399.3102.5
May 2023100.8103.2
Jun. 202399.2103.8
Jul. 202398.1101.0
Aug. 202398.3100.8
Sep. 202397.6100.8
Oct. 202396.7100.1
Nov. 202396.2101.3
Dec. 202394.1100.5
Jan. 202495.099.8
Feb. 202496.7100.2
Mar. 202495.499.4
Apr. 202495.8100.3
May 202492.598.3
Jun. 202495.099.6
Jul. 202492.699.3
Aug. 202494.999.8
Sep. 202492.898.8
Oct. 202492.999.4
Nov. 202493.599.4
Dec. 202491.698.6
Jan. 202594.1100.4
Feb. 202593.2101.0
Mar. 202596.4103.5
Apr. 202593.4100.6
May 202593.3101.1
Jun. 202593.0100.7
Jul. 202593.5101.0
Aug. 202591.2101.2
Sep. 202592.1101.2
Oct. 202592.3100.8
Nov. 202593.8101.2
Dec. 202592.8101.2
Jan. 202691.899.2
Feb. 202691.9100.0
Mar. 202691.4101.0
Apr. 202691.5101.3
May 202692.2101.3
Jun. 202692.1101.2
Jul. 202690.1100.7
Aug. 202690.9100.5
Sep. 202692.4–

Output by branch in Germany, index 2021 = 100

Energy-intensive industries, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, transport equipment (cars first).

  • Transport equipment
  • Chemicals and pharmaceuticals
  • Energy-intensive industries

Source:Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), via DBnomics

Show the chart data
PeriodEnergy-intensive industriesChemicals and pharmaceuticalsTransport equipment
Jan. 2015100.092.9120.8
Feb. 2015100.493.2125.0
Mar. 2015100.694.4124.0
Apr. 2015101.295.2123.7
May 2015100.294.4127.7
Jun. 2015101.797.2123.6
Jul. 2015101.096.0134.0
Aug. 2015101.296.0123.3
Sep. 2015101.194.4124.3
Oct. 201599.792.9130.1
Nov. 2015100.595.4123.6
Dec. 2015100.293.0121.9
Jan. 2016101.196.4128.6
Feb. 2016102.496.1125.9
Mar. 2016101.194.5125.0
Apr. 201699.993.3129.9
May 2016101.096.8120.0
Jun. 2016100.195.7129.6
Jul. 201699.694.4127.8
Aug. 2016101.397.0130.3
Sep. 2016101.696.9126.7
Oct. 2016100.594.7130.7
Nov. 2016100.095.2123.4
Dec. 2016100.795.3118.8
Jan. 201799.596.0124.5
Feb. 2017100.895.9124.9
Mar. 2017101.096.8125.2
Apr. 2017102.696.4127.1
May 2017100.994.5128.0
Jun. 2017101.896.4127.0
Jul. 2017103.298.4129.2
Aug. 2017104.4100.3141.8
Sep. 2017104.7101.4130.7
Oct. 2017103.798.4126.7
Nov. 2017105.6103.1133.9
Dec. 2017105.3102.8127.5
Jan. 2018103.1102.2133.3
Feb. 2018101.5101.1124.8
Mar. 2018100.3101.0133.3
Apr. 2018101.4100.2133.3
May 2018104.2106.7131.4
Jun. 2018103.6106.1132.8
Jul. 2018103.1107.5125.5
Aug. 2018101.9106.9125.6
Sep. 2018101.0105.2123.5
Oct. 2018100.097.2124.9
Nov. 201899.893.4121.4
Dec. 2018100.595.6126.6
Jan. 2019100.896.9121.5
Feb. 2019100.795.5124.2
Mar. 201999.695.1124.5
Apr. 201998.893.9123.5
May 201998.595.8130.0
Jun. 201998.195.3126.5
Jul. 201998.295.1125.3
Aug. 201998.692.5126.2
Sep. 201996.991.0124.5
Oct. 201998.196.7120.7
Nov. 201996.894.3121.5
Dec. 201995.391.1115.7
Jan. 202098.595.8122.0
Feb. 2020101.9101.8123.3
Mar. 202096.695.488.2
Apr. 202086.192.230.8
May 202084.887.769.3
Jun. 202086.789.4101.2
Jul. 202090.392.1111.4
Aug. 202093.189.7100.0
Sep. 202094.395.3110.0
Oct. 202097.496.1119.9
Nov. 202098.496.8121.5
Dec. 2020100.398.9117.7
Jan. 202199.597.9110.8
Feb. 202194.994.6109.1
Mar. 202199.598.5108.8
Apr. 202199.397.0106.8
May 2021100.9101.295.8
Jun. 202198.898.692.0
Jul. 202198.398.9100.5
Aug. 202198.499.276.2
Sep. 202199.8101.981.7
Oct. 2021100.8100.896.5
Nov. 2021101.6103.5100.8
Dec. 2021103.3103.7105.3
Jan. 2022100.999.4102.8
Feb. 202298.6100.6102.6
Mar. 202297.8100.683.6
Apr. 202297.796.494.4
May 202295.493.799.5
Jun. 202296.093.0103.0
Jul. 202294.191.5104.1
Aug. 202291.891.5101.4
Sep. 202291.995.5111.5
Oct. 202288.791.7109.4
Nov. 202288.388.8115.0
Dec. 202284.087.9113.2
Jan. 202386.887.4115.5
Feb. 202386.887.4123.2
Mar. 202385.086.2117.8
Apr. 202383.388.1116.5
May 202382.782.8123.2
Jun. 202382.986.4115.0
Jul. 202382.585.9111.4
Aug. 202383.187.0115.3
Sep. 202383.685.3113.3
Oct. 202381.685.0114.3
Nov. 202383.085.6113.1
Dec. 202379.782.9110.5
Jan. 202482.485.0108.2
Feb. 202486.190.1111.4
Mar. 202485.289.4108.9
Apr. 202484.588.0115.3
May 202484.787.2102.8
Jun. 202486.489.1109.8
Jul. 202485.087.2106.6
Aug. 202484.187.5118.3
Sep. 202481.784.5109.4
Oct. 202481.683.6109.7
Nov. 202483.482.8109.4
Dec. 202481.885.499.5
Jan. 202583.888.0112.2
Feb. 202582.686.4106.7
Mar. 202584.593.9112.2
Apr. 202582.684.7110.5
May 202581.586.0112.3
Jun. 202581.084.5110.1
Jul. 202581.086.1109.8
Aug. 202581.583.5101.0
Sep. 202581.485.9107.4
Oct. 202581.685.6103.8
Nov. 202580.585.9110.6
Dec. 202580.185.3104.6
Jan. 202679.985.0105.6
Feb. 202681.083.6106.7
Mar. 202681.983.5107.4
Apr. 202682.785.2103.2
May 202683.285.8106.1
Jun. 202681.585.8109.5
Jul. 202679.881.0101.2
Aug. 202679.280.897.7
Sep. 202679.884.7111.6

New orders in manufacturing, index 2021 = 100

Volume, seasonally and calendar adjusted. Latest month: Sep. 2026.

Source:Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), via DBnomics

Show the chart data
PeriodOrders
Jan. 201589.5
Feb. 201588.2
Mar. 201588.9
Apr. 201590.4
May 201589.4
Jun. 201591.9
Jul. 201590.9
Aug. 201588.9
Sep. 201587.7
Oct. 201588.1
Nov. 201589.2
Dec. 201587.5
Jan. 201689.7
Feb. 201689.0
Mar. 201690.7
Apr. 201689.9
May 201689.6
Jun. 201689.6
Jul. 201690.2
Aug. 201690.5
Sep. 201689.7
Oct. 201692.3
Nov. 201690.7
Dec. 201694.6
Jan. 201790.0
Feb. 201795.1
Mar. 201794.0
Apr. 201795.2
May 201793.6
Jun. 201794.9
Jul. 201794.8
Aug. 201797.8
Sep. 201798.3
Oct. 201799.2
Nov. 201799.0
Dec. 2017101.7
Jan. 201897.3
Feb. 201898.5
Mar. 201896.8
Apr. 201896.3
May 201897.8
Jun. 201895.0
Jul. 201894.9
Aug. 201896.1
Sep. 201896.3
Oct. 201896.6
Nov. 201895.4
Dec. 201897.2
Jan. 201993.7
Feb. 201990.3
Mar. 201991.6
Apr. 201991.4
May 201989.6
Jun. 201991.3
Jul. 201990.8
Aug. 201990.1
Sep. 201991.9
Oct. 201991.4
Nov. 201989.9
Dec. 201988.8
Jan. 202093.8
Feb. 202091.6
Mar. 202077.3
Apr. 202056.2
May 202063.1
Jun. 202081.2
Jul. 202085.1
Aug. 202088.6
Sep. 202091.5
Oct. 202094.6
Nov. 202096.5
Dec. 202094.9
Jan. 202193.7
Feb. 202196.3
Mar. 202199.5
Apr. 2021102.2
May 202197.7
Jun. 2021103.8
Jul. 2021108.2
Aug. 202197.4
Sep. 2021100.3
Oct. 202195.4
Nov. 202198.6
Dec. 2021100.1
Jan. 2022103.5
Feb. 2022101.2
Mar. 202295.9
Apr. 202295.4
May 202294.6
Jun. 202294.5
Jul. 202296.8
Aug. 202294.0
Sep. 202291.0
Oct. 202292.7
Nov. 202289.0
Dec. 202290.3
Jan. 202389.1
Feb. 202393.3
Mar. 202385.0
Apr. 202385.0
May 202389.6
Jun. 202396.5
Jul. 202385.6
Aug. 202388.1
Sep. 202386.5
Oct. 202384.7
Nov. 202385.4
Dec. 202395.3
Jan. 202483.6
Feb. 202484.3
Mar. 202483.3
Apr. 202483.3
May 202482.2
Jun. 202486.5
Jul. 202488.7
Aug. 202483.8
Sep. 202489.1
Oct. 202488.9
Nov. 202483.9
Dec. 202488.9
Jan. 202586.8
Feb. 202585.7
Mar. 202587.2
Apr. 202587.8
May 202585.8
Jun. 202586.8
Jul. 202584.4
Aug. 202583.5
Sep. 202587.4
Oct. 202588.5
Nov. 202593.3
Dec. 202598.6
Jan. 202687.2
Feb. 202688.6
Mar. 202692.5
Apr. 202689.5
May 202689.8
Jun. 202693.2
Jul. 202696.2
Aug. 202686.5
Sep. 202690.3

2. Expensive energy, lost Chinese markets

Electricity for German businesses remains dearer than the European average, although the gap narrowed in the first half of 2026. At the same time China, a major customer for German cars and machinery, is buying less.

Business electricity prices, euros per MWh

Consumption of 2,000 to 20,000 MWh a year, excluding VAT and recoverable taxes, by half-year.

  • EU-27
  • France
  • Germany

Source:Eurostat

Show the chart data
PeriodGermanyFranceEU-27
H1 2015€132/MWh€90/MWh€103/MWh
H2 2015€130/MWh€85/MWh€102/MWh
H1 2016€129/MWh€79/MWh€98/MWh
H2 2016€126/MWh€76/MWh€97/MWh
H1 2017€127/MWh€78/MWh€97/MWh
H2 2017€127/MWh€74/MWh€96/MWh
H1 2018€122/MWh€77/MWh€95/MWh
H2 2018€124/MWh€72/MWh€96/MWh
H1 2019€131/MWh€84/MWh€105/MWh
H2 2019€136/MWh€79/MWh€103/MWh
H1 2020€151/MWh€85/MWh€106/MWh
H2 2020€153/MWh€81/MWh€107/MWh
H1 2021€150/MWh€87/MWh€110/MWh
H2 2021€164/MWh€88/MWh€132/MWh
H1 2022€193/MWh€125/MWh€174/MWh
H2 2022€195/MWh€114/MWh€202/MWh
H1 2023€206/MWh€224/MWh€202/MWh
H2 2023€202/MWh€203/MWh€187/MWh
H1 2024€202/MWh€141/MWh€163/MWh
H2 2024€208/MWh€145/MWh€171/MWh
H1 2025€193/MWh€130/MWh€164/MWh
H2 2025€192/MWh€121/MWh€160/MWh
H1 2026€174/MWh€124/MWh€156/MWh

Exports to the United States and China, each month

Billions of current euros, seasonally adjusted. Total exports in Sep. 2026: €141.1bn.

  • China
  • United States

Source:Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), via DBnomics

Show the chart data
PeriodUnited StatesChina
Jan. 2015€8.7bn€6.1bn
Feb. 2015€9.2bn€6.2bn
Mar. 2015€9.4bn€6.1bn
Apr. 2015€10.0bn€6.3bn
May 2015€9.7bn€6.0bn
Jun. 2015€9.6bn€5.8bn
Jul. 2015€9.6bn€5.9bn
Aug. 2015€9.3bn€5.8bn
Sep. 2015€9.8bn€5.8bn
Oct. 2015€9.4bn€5.5bn
Nov. 2015€9.0bn€5.7bn
Dec. 2015€9.3bn€5.9bn
Jan. 2016€8.7bn€6.0bn
Feb. 2016€9.0bn€6.1bn
Mar. 2016€9.6bn€5.8bn
Apr. 2016€8.9bn€6.3bn
May 2016€8.4bn€6.0bn
Jun. 2016€9.0bn€6.2bn
Jul. 2016€8.7bn€6.3bn
Aug. 2016€8.6bn€6.3bn
Sep. 2016€8.4bn€6.4bn
Oct. 2016€8.8bn€6.6bn
Nov. 2016€9.2bn€6.7bn
Dec. 2016€8.8bn€6.8bn
Jan. 2017€9.7bn€6.7bn
Feb. 2017€9.6bn€6.9bn
Mar. 2017€9.5bn€6.9bn
Apr. 2017€9.1bn€6.6bn
May 2017€9.5bn€7.1bn
Jun. 2017€8.9bn€6.9bn
Jul. 2017€9.0bn€7.2bn
Aug. 2017€9.2bn€7.8bn
Sep. 2017€8.9bn€7.3bn
Oct. 2017€9.1bn€7.3bn
Nov. 2017€9.7bn€7.6bn
Dec. 2017€9.9bn€7.9bn
Jan. 2018€9.1bn€7.7bn
Feb. 2018€9.1bn€7.6bn
Mar. 2018€10.0bn€7.5bn
Apr. 2018€9.5bn€7.4bn
May 2018€9.1bn€7.8bn
Jun. 2018€9.8bn€7.8bn
Jul. 2018€9.5bn€7.5bn
Aug. 2018€9.6bn€7.9bn
Sep. 2018€9.4bn€8.5bn
Oct. 2018€9.3bn€8.2bn
Nov. 2018€9.6bn€7.9bn
Dec. 2018€10.1bn€8.0bn
Jan. 2019€10.1bn€8.1bn
Feb. 2019€9.3bn€7.9bn
Mar. 2019€9.9bn€8.0bn
Apr. 2019€10.0bn€8.3bn
May 2019€10.2bn€7.8bn
Jun. 2019€10.1bn€7.7bn
Jul. 2019€10.1bn€7.9bn
Aug. 2019€10.3bn€7.8bn
Sep. 2019€9.7bn€7.9bn
Oct. 2019€10.2bn€8.3bn
Nov. 2019€9.7bn€8.0bn
Dec. 2019€9.7bn€9.0bn
Jan. 2020€9.8bn€7.8bn
Feb. 2020€9.9bn€7.3bn
Mar. 2020€9.1bn€6.8bn
Apr. 2020€6.4bn€7.2bn
May 2020€7.0bn€7.4bn
Jun. 2020€7.4bn€8.0bn
Jul. 2020€8.3bn€7.9bn
Aug. 2020€8.3bn€8.0bn
Sep. 2020€8.7bn€8.3bn
Oct. 2020€9.0bn€8.2bn
Nov. 2020€9.1bn€8.9bn
Dec. 2020€9.7bn€9.3bn
Jan. 2021€9.9bn€8.8bn
Feb. 2021€9.7bn€8.9bn
Mar. 2021€9.5bn€8.9bn
Apr. 2021€10.3bn€8.4bn
May 2021€9.9bn€8.7bn
Jun. 2021€9.9bn€8.8bn
Jul. 2021€10.2bn€7.9bn
Aug. 2021€9.9bn€7.9bn
Sep. 2021€10.0bn€8.3bn
Oct. 2021€10.4bn€9.3bn
Nov. 2021€10.3bn€8.4bn
Dec. 2021€11.0bn€8.1bn
Jan. 2022€11.2bn€8.8bn
Feb. 2022€11.1bn€9.7bn
Mar. 2022€11.8bn€9.0bn
Apr. 2022€12.6bn€8.6bn
May 2022€13.5bn€8.7bn
Jun. 2022€14.5bn€8.8bn
Jul. 2022€12.1bn€8.8bn
Aug. 2022€13.7bn€8.9bn
Sep. 2022€14.2bn€8.9bn
Oct. 2022€13.9bn€9.0bn
Nov. 2022€13.6bn€8.8bn
Dec. 2022€12.8bn€8.1bn
Jan. 2023€13.0bn€7.8bn
Feb. 2023€13.5bn€8.6bn
Mar. 2023€12.6bn€7.8bn
Apr. 2023€13.1bn€8.4bn
May 2023€13.0bn€8.6bn
Jun. 2023€13.5bn€8.1bn
Jul. 2023€13.3bn€8.3bn
Aug. 2023€13.5bn€8.2bn
Sep. 2023€12.7bn€7.8bn
Oct. 2023€13.8bn€8.0bn
Nov. 2023€13.4bn€8.1bn
Dec. 2023€12.8bn€7.7bn
Jan. 2024€12.7bn€8.1bn
Feb. 2024€13.6bn€8.2bn
Mar. 2024€13.9bn€8.2bn
Apr. 2024€14.0bn€8.4bn
May 2024€14.2bn€7.6bn
Jun. 2024€13.3bn€7.7bn
Jul. 2024€12.8bn€7.3bn
Aug. 2024€13.6bn€7.3bn
Sep. 2024€14.0bn€7.1bn
Oct. 2024€12.3bn€6.9bn
Nov. 2024€14.1bn€6.6bn
Dec. 2024€13.5bn€6.8bn
Jan. 2025€12.9bn€6.7bn
Feb. 2025€14.0bn€6.9bn
Mar. 2025€14.4bn€7.5bn
Apr. 2025€13.2bn€7.0bn
May 2025€12.2bn€6.8bn
Jun. 2025€12.4bn€6.8bn
Jul. 2025€11.1bn€6.5bn
Aug. 2025€11.0bn€6.8bn
Sep. 2025€12.2bn€6.7bn
Oct. 2025€11.3bn€6.4bn
Nov. 2025€11.2bn€6.5bn
Dec. 2025€11.8bn€7.2bn
Jan. 2026€12.9bn€6.3bn
Feb. 2026€12.2bn€6.1bn
Mar. 2026€11.7bn€6.0bn
Apr. 2026€11.5bn€5.8bn
May 2026€14.1bn€6.1bn
Jun. 2026€12.3bn€6.1bn
Jul. 2026€14.2bn€5.6bn
Aug. 2026€13.5bn€5.8bn
Sep. 2026€13.4bn€5.5bn

3. Unemployment rising towards three million

The number of registered unemployed has been rising since 2022. It passed three million in Aug. 2025, a first since Feb. 2015.

Unemployed registered with the Federal Employment Agency

Millions, mid-month, not seasonally adjusted (seasonal peak every winter).

Source:Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Destatis table 13211-0002), via DBnomics

Show the chart data
PeriodRegistered unemployed
Jan. 20103.61 million
Feb. 20103.64 million
Mar. 20103.56 million
Apr. 20103.40 million
May 20103.24 million
Jun. 20103.15 million
Jul. 20103.19 million
Aug. 20103.18 million
Sep. 20103.03 million
Oct. 20102.94 million
Nov. 20102.93 million
Dec. 20103.01 million
Jan. 20113.35 million
Feb. 20113.31 million
Mar. 20113.21 million
Apr. 20113.08 million
May 20112.96 million
Jun. 20112.89 million
Jul. 20112.94 million
Aug. 20112.95 million
Sep. 20112.80 million
Oct. 20112.74 million
Nov. 20112.71 million
Dec. 20112.78 million
Jan. 20123.08 million
Feb. 20123.11 million
Mar. 20123.03 million
Apr. 20122.96 million
May 20122.86 million
Jun. 20122.81 million
Jul. 20122.88 million
Aug. 20122.91 million
Sep. 20122.79 million
Oct. 20122.75 million
Nov. 20122.75 million
Dec. 20122.84 million
Jan. 20133.14 million
Feb. 20133.16 million
Mar. 20133.10 million
Apr. 20133.02 million
May 20132.94 million
Jun. 20132.86 million
Jul. 20132.91 million
Aug. 20132.95 million
Sep. 20132.85 million
Oct. 20132.80 million
Nov. 20132.81 million
Dec. 20132.87 million
Jan. 20143.14 million
Feb. 20143.14 million
Mar. 20143.05 million
Apr. 20142.94 million
May 20142.88 million
Jun. 20142.83 million
Jul. 20142.87 million
Aug. 20142.90 million
Sep. 20142.81 million
Oct. 20142.73 million
Nov. 20142.72 million
Dec. 20142.76 million
Jan. 20153.03 million
Feb. 20153.02 million
Mar. 20152.93 million
Apr. 20152.84 million
May 20152.76 million
Jun. 20152.71 million
Jul. 20152.77 million
Aug. 20152.80 million
Sep. 20152.71 million
Oct. 20152.65 million
Nov. 20152.63 million
Dec. 20152.68 million
Jan. 20162.92 million
Feb. 20162.91 million
Mar. 20162.84 million
Apr. 20162.74 million
May 20162.66 million
Jun. 20162.61 million
Jul. 20162.66 million
Aug. 20162.68 million
Sep. 20162.61 million
Oct. 20162.54 million
Nov. 20162.53 million
Dec. 20162.57 million
Jan. 20172.78 million
Feb. 20172.76 million
Mar. 20172.66 million
Apr. 20172.57 million
May 20172.50 million
Jun. 20172.47 million
Jul. 20172.52 million
Aug. 20172.54 million
Sep. 20172.45 million
Oct. 20172.39 million
Nov. 20172.37 million
Dec. 20172.39 million
Jan. 20182.57 million
Feb. 20182.55 million
Mar. 20182.46 million
Apr. 20182.38 million
May 20182.32 million
Jun. 20182.28 million
Jul. 20182.32 million
Aug. 20182.35 million
Sep. 20182.26 million
Oct. 20182.20 million
Nov. 20182.19 million
Dec. 20182.21 million
Jan. 20192.41 million
Feb. 20192.37 million
Mar. 20192.30 million
Apr. 20192.23 million
May 20192.24 million
Jun. 20192.22 million
Jul. 20192.28 million
Aug. 20192.32 million
Sep. 20192.23 million
Oct. 20192.20 million
Nov. 20192.18 million
Dec. 20192.23 million
Jan. 20202.43 million
Feb. 20202.40 million
Mar. 20202.34 million
Apr. 20202.64 million
May 20202.81 million
Jun. 20202.85 million
Jul. 20202.91 million
Aug. 20202.96 million
Sep. 20202.85 million
Oct. 20202.76 million
Nov. 20202.70 million
Dec. 20202.71 million
Jan. 20212.90 million
Feb. 20212.90 million
Mar. 20212.83 million
Apr. 20212.77 million
May 20212.69 million
Jun. 20212.61 million
Jul. 20212.59 million
Aug. 20212.58 million
Sep. 20212.46 million
Oct. 20212.38 million
Nov. 20212.32 million
Dec. 20212.33 million
Jan. 20222.46 million
Feb. 20222.43 million
Mar. 20222.36 million
Apr. 20222.31 million
May 20222.26 million
Jun. 20222.36 million
Jul. 20222.47 million
Aug. 20222.55 million
Sep. 20222.49 million
Oct. 20222.44 million
Nov. 20222.43 million
Dec. 20222.45 million
Jan. 20232.62 million
Feb. 20232.62 million
Mar. 20232.59 million
Apr. 20232.59 million
May 20232.54 million
Jun. 20232.56 million
Jul. 20232.62 million
Aug. 20232.70 million
Sep. 20232.63 million
Oct. 20232.61 million
Nov. 20232.61 million
Dec. 20232.64 million
Jan. 20242.81 million
Feb. 20242.81 million
Mar. 20242.77 million
Apr. 20242.75 million
May 20242.72 million
Jun. 20242.73 million
Jul. 20242.81 million
Aug. 20242.87 million
Sep. 20242.81 million
Oct. 20242.79 million
Nov. 20242.77 million
Dec. 20242.81 million
Jan. 20252.99 million
Feb. 20252.99 million
Mar. 20252.97 million
Apr. 20252.93 million
May 20252.92 million
Jun. 20252.91 million
Jul. 20252.98 million
Aug. 20253.03 million
Sep. 20252.95 million
Oct. 20252.91 million
Nov. 20252.89 million
Dec. 20252.91 million
Jan. 20263.08 million
Feb. 20263.07 million
Mar. 20263.02 million
Apr. 20263.01 million
May 20262.95 million
Jun. 20262.94 million
Jul. 20263.01 million
Aug. 20263.06 million
Sep. 20262.99 million
Oct. 20262.95 million

What we know, what we don’t

What the figures establish

  • German manufacturing output is well below its 2018 level, and energy-intensive industries have fallen the most.
  • Exports to China are falling, while total exports are growing.
  • The number of registered unemployed again exceeds three million in some months, which had not happened since the mid-2010s.

What they don’t tell

  • The effect of the special infrastructure fund: the spending committed does not yet show in these series.
  • The share of each cause (energy prices, Chinese competition, US tariffs, the car industry’s transition): these series do not separate them.
  • Industrial job losses by branch: this dossier only reads total registered unemployment.

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Sources

Series downloaded from their producers on Nov 12, 2026, the snapshot date. Only published periods are used: no projection.

  • Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Destatis table 13211-0002), via DBnomics Registered unemployed, Germany, monthly
  • Eurostat Production in industry, manufacturing, calendar and seasonally adjusted (sts_inpr_m)
  • Eurostat Electricity prices for non-household consumers, band ID, excluding VAT (nrg_pc_205)
  • Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), via DBnomics Indices of production in manufacturing (42153-0001), calendar and seasonally adjusted
  • Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), via DBnomics Indices of new orders in manufacturing (42151-0001), volume, calendar and seasonally adjusted
  • Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis), via DBnomics Foreign trade: exports by country, calendar and seasonally adjusted (51000-0007)