Survey reveals upswing in German business expectations
The Ifo Business Climate Index for German industry and trade rose again in January, after a significant improvement in the previous months.
The surveyed firms expressed greater satisfaction with their current business situation than in December, and they gave favourable assessments of their expectations for the next six months.
Manufacturing reflected the upswing with more optimistic expectations.
Export expectations have also improved.
Particularly, the producers of investment and intermediary goods reported a better situation and outlook.
In construction and in retailing especially business expectations improved.
Only in wholesaling did the business climate cool slightly.
Although the surveyed wholesalers gave more confident appraisals of their business prospects, they were more reserved regarding their
current situation than they were last month.
