Germany's weak economic growth continued to cause serious problems for the country's leading listed companies in 2025, according to a study by consulting firm EY, reported dpa. The report, seen by dpa, said earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for the 100 German companies with the highest turnover shrank to €102 billion, down 15% on the previous year. Total revenue for the top 100 companies rose by 0.6% to around €1.55 trillion, under the rate of inflation. Around half of the companies generated less profit than in the previous year. EY expert Jan Brorhilker said "2025 was another crisis year for the German economy." The economy is weakening, while geopolitical conflicts and US trade policy are causing reluctance to invest, he said. In addition, Chinese companies are increasingly pushing into the global market, which means additional competition and pressure on costs. "German industrial companies with a strong export focus in particular did not have an easy time in 2025," Brorhilker explained. Many top companies are putting the brakes on new hires, with jobs being cut primarily in administration. "We are also seeing the effects of the increasing implementation of AI technologies," he said. "The situation on the labour market is likely to remain tense, especially for young professionals." Struggles were clear in the country's vital automotive sector, with turnover at Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz down 2% year-on-year to around €437.2 billion. Chemical companies were hit even harder, with profits slumping by 71%, while the IT and health sectors performed better. Telecommunications giant Telekom topped the list of the most profitable companies in Germany, with operating profit up 9% to €19.4 billion in the first nine months of the year.