This paper introduces the Deutsche Bundesbank's new procedure for estimating the term structure of interest rates. It describes the basic methodological approaches used (Nelson and Siegel (1987) and Svensson (1994)) and some fundamental concepts which are important for estimating and...

The purpose of the present paper is twofold. First, it describes zero-coupon yield curve estimates for Germany from September 1972 to February 1996 using a variety of curve-fitting procedures. Second, these estimates are tested for their information content regarding future inflation