The share of price-increasing items minus the share of price-decreasing items in the CPI has been increasing clearly, suggesting that price rises have been observed in a wide range of goods and services (Chart 5).
The positive economic situation and 1/5  BIS central bankers' speeches  sound financing conditions have contributed to the decline in the German unemployment rate. The number of consumer insolvencies has also fallen. As a consequence, household debt as a percentage of gross domestic product, at roughly 50%, is at its lowest level in two decades.