To sum up: In the comprehensive assessment, German banks demonstrated that they are robust enough to withstand even severe stress but have to increase their profitability in order to cross the finishing line at the front of the pack. 3.
The risk to the growth outlook is assessed to be on the downside, particularly due to the electricity supply constraints, difficult labour market conditions, particularly in the mining sector, and weaker commodity prices. Unemployment levels  BIS central bankers’ speeches  1  continue to remain sticky and have risen in the first quarter of 2013 to 25.2%.