BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – Finance Minister Christian Lindner sees “serious warning signals” in the figures presented on economic development and inflation. “The stabilization of growth and the fight against further price increases therefore have the highest priority,” said the FDP leader on Wednesday of the German Press Agency. However, this is about different help than in the corona pandemic. Tax relief and state measures to secure economic livelihoods could only dampen short-term consequences.
However, long-term prosperity is in question due to changed supply chains and expensive energy imports. “That’s why we have to develop even more new sources of social prosperity,” said Lindner. “Subsidies and redistribution won’t help us in the long run.” He promoted “market economy ideas competition, entrepreneurial spirit, inventiveness and an increase in competitiveness”.
Because of the war in Ukraine and rapidly rising energy prices, consumers in Germany are threatened with the highest inflation since reunification this year. In March, consumer prices were 7.3 percent higher than in March 2021. The economy is also being slowed down. The “business wise men” even see a substantial risk of a recession should the crisis worsen.
/tam/DP/mis