Germany news: Merz booed as he advocates economic reform
Key takeaways
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Germany must buckle down to ensure economic renewal, amid geopolitical turmoil.
- 05/12/2026May 12, 2026Germany inflation rises to 2.9% in AprilGermany's inflation rate has climbed to 2.9% in April, driven by rising energy costs.
- The Federal Statistical Office, Destatis, says prices increased from 2.7% in March and 1.9% in February, with consumer prices up 0.6% month on month.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Germany must buckle down to ensure economic renewal, amid geopolitical turmoil. Meanwhile, inflation is up again with energy prices a key driver pushing up costs. DW has the latest.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Dco MMerz's speech was not made to a particularly receptive audience Image: Chris Emil Janßen/picture alliance Advertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Germany must do more to overcome years of economic stagnation Speaking to trade unionists amid boos, he cited global upheaval and deep structural problems The chancellor warned that Germany is losing more than 100,000 industrial jobs each year Germany’s inflation rate rose to 2.9% in April, as energy prices surged 10.1% year on year Here are the latest developments from and about Germany on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
05/12/2026May 12, 2026Germany inflation rises to 2.9% in AprilGermany's inflation rate has climbed to 2.9% in April, driven by rising energy costs.