Lords of Numbers: How Three German Media Outlets Shape Europe's Economic Thinking
When the DAX index rises in Berlin, it's not just the trading board at the stock exchange behind it, but also the headlines, analysis, and charts read by hundreds of thousands of economists, entrepreneurs, and politicians. Who controls this information flow? Meet the trio of intellectual heavyweights in the German media scene.
Handelsblatt: The Oldest and Most Influential
Founded in 1946, Handelsblatt is Germany's leading daily newspaper focused on business, economics, and finance. Published in Düsseldorf by the Handelsblatt Media Group, the paper has positioned itself from the outset as "the newspaper for entrepreneurs," and remains a favorite news source for Germany's business elite.
According to the IVW report (2024), Handelsblatt has a print circulation of about 100,000 copies, with a digital audience of over 2 million unique users per month. A digital subscription starts at €29.90/month, with a premium package priced up to €59.90.
The newspaper is rapidly expanding its online presence: mobile apps, podcasts, and newsletters are popular among professionals. Particularly acclaimed is the "Deutschland 2025" series, where analysts and experts examined scenarios for the country's future amid the energy transition and digital transformation. These materials were quoted in the Bundestag and translated into English and French.
WirtschaftsWoche: A Week Filled with Strategy
WirtschaftsWoche is a weekly business magazine, also published by the Handelsblatt Media Group. Founded in 1926 as a tool for in-depth market analysis, it has become an essential source for strategic insights and research.
Its weekly print circulation is around 120,000 copies, while its online platform attracts more than 1.5 million readers monthly. The digital subscription starts at €9.99/month, with customized packages available for businesses.
The magazine is famous for its covers, which are often discussed on social media and in corporate chats. One of its most cited issues, "Die China-Falle" (The China Trap), focused on Germany's export dependence on the Chinese economy. The article triggered a wave of responses in the industrial sector and even a reaction from Germany's Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Börsen-Zeitung: The Voice of Germany’s Stock Market
The specialized daily newspaper Börsen-Zeitung has been published since 1952 and serves as the main window into the financial world for investors and traders. Its publications provide daily analysis of stock, currency, and debt markets both within Germany and internationally.
With a print run of over 70,000 copies, its strength lies in its professional and institutional readership, including banks, insurance companies, funds, and regulators. Subscription prices start at €79/month for online access. For access to the full archive of analysis and stock quotes, costs can reach €300/month.
The publication offers a unique service, BZ Terminal — a professional platform featuring market analytics, aggregated charts, and access to corporate reports. Börsen-Zeitung's materials often serve as original sources for Bloomberg and Reuters news in the German-speaking world.
Who Sets the Economic Agenda?
Amid media polarization and information noise, these three publications remain anchors of credibility and analytical depth. Handelsblatt sets the agenda, WirtschaftsWoche crafts strategy, and Börsen-Zeitung gives voice to the markets. Together, they form a three-pronged lens through which business Germany views the world.
And when the next economic crisis hits Europe, it will be in their columns that readers will find the first warning signs — in the lines, the charts, and between the lines.