Germany news: Smaller cities top out happiness rankings
Key takeaways
- Erfurt has been ranked Germany’s happiest city, jumping to the top of a nationwide survey.
- 06/09/2026June 9, 2026German exports rise in surprise third monthly gainGerman exports have risen for a third consecutive month, unexpectedly defying forecasts despite global strain from the Iran war.
- Data published by the Federal Statistics Office showed that exports increased 0.9% in April from the previous month, beating expectations for a 0.5% decline.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Erfurt has been ranked Germany’s happiest city, jumping to the top of a nationwide survey. Meanwhile, German exports have posted a surprise third straight monthly increase. DW has the latest.
https://p.dw.com/p/5F3Pu Revelers at this music event in the city of Erfurt seem to agree it's a good place to be Image: Michael Kremer/Geisler-Fotopress/picture alliance Advertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Smaller German cities dominate a new happiness ranking, with the Thuringian capital, Erfurt, taking top spot Larger hubs such as Berlin and Munich fare less well, while the northern port of Rostock came bottom German exports have beaten expectations, rising for the third month in succession Strong demand from Europe and the US has offset weaker trade with China Here are the latest headlines from and about Germany on Tuesday, June 9 2026:
06/09/2026June 9, 2026German exports rise in surprise third monthly gainGerman exports have risen for a third consecutive month, unexpectedly defying forecasts despite global strain from the Iran war.