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ifo Business Climate Index Declines (July 2021)
Sentiment in the German economy has clouded over. The ifo Business Climate Index for Germany fell to 100.8 points in July, down from 101.7 points in June (seasonally adjusted). Companies evaluated their current business situations as somewhat better, but their expectations for the coming months were significantly less optimistic. Supply bottlenecks and concerns over newly rising infection numbers are weighing on the German economy.
ifo Business Climate Saxony Cools Down Further (August 2023)
Saxony’s business climate cooled slightly in August. The barometer of business sentiment in Saxony’s economy fell from 92.1 points in July to 90.8 points in August, marking the third month in a row to see a decrease. Compared with the previous month, the companies surveyed were noticeably less satisfied with their business situation. They also slightly reduced their business expectations.
Joint Economic Forecast Spring 2022: From Pandemic to Energy Crisis – Economy and Politics under Permanent Stress
The leading economic research institutes expect gross domestic product to increase by 2.7 percent in the current year and by 3.1 percent in 2023.
ifo Business Climate Saxony: A Wintry Spell (December 2023)
The business climate in Saxony cooled noticeably in December. The ifo Business Climate Index for the region’s economy fell from 92.7 points to 91.3 points compared to the previous month. The Saxony-based companies surveyed assessed their business situation as noticeably worse than in November; they also reduced their expectations for the coming months, albeit only slightly.
Coronavirus: Companies Support Families (4th Quarter 2020)
The special questions in the fourth quarter of 2020 explored the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the labor situation. The particular focus was on the development of pay and components thereof. Moreover, the participating companies indicated whether, and how, they supported families with children in ensuring the provision of childcare.
German Federal Budget 2024: More Money for Defense, Education and Science, as Well as for Digital and Transport
As part of the negotiations on the 2024 federal budget, the German Ministry of Finance has stated that tax revenue in 2024 will not be sufficient to cover all spending requests. Serious savings and prioritization are needed. The 43rd ifo and FAZ Economists Panel is therefore dedicated to the 2024 federal budget. The survey, in which 177 economics professors participated, was conducted from June 20 to June 27, 2023.
ifo Export Expectations Fall (December 2021)
Sentiment in the German export industry has deteriorated. The ifo Export Expectations fell to 12.1 points in December, down from 15.8 points in November. Nevertheless, exports will probably increase in the first quarter of 2022, albeit at a slower pace.
Economic Experts Survey: Slightly Improved Assessment of Economic Policy Worldwide (Q3 2022)
Economic policy worldwide is assessed as slightly better in Q3 2022 than in the previous quarter. The exceptions are Eastern Europe, West Africa, and South America. Political performance is also viewed much more critically in these regions. These are the findings of the Economic Experts Survey (EES), a global survey of economic experts conducted jointly by the ifo Institute and the Swiss Economic Policy Institute (IWP) on a quarterly basis.
ifo Education Survey 2020: Germans support more uniformity and comparability in the education system
How does the German population think about federalism in education? Which governmental level should be responsible for education policy? And what measures for standardization and better comparability in the education system do Germans support? The ifo Education Survey 2020 examines these and other questions.
ifo Employment Barometer Rises Marginally (October 2020)
German companies are cautiously optimistic about hiring. The ifo Employment Barometer climbed to 96.5 points in October after measuring 96.3 points in September. This indicates growth in the workforce in the fourth quarter, but risks remain due to the coronavirus crisis.
Business Climate in the German Automotive Industry Brightens
The business climate in Germany’s automotive industry has improved slightly. In September, the indicator rose to -14.7 points, up from -18.1 points* in August. “German automakers and their suppliers are satisfied with their current situation, but their expectations are still at rock bottom,” says Oliver Falck, Director of the ifo Center for Industrial Organization and New Technologies.
ifo Employment Barometer Falls Again (July 2022)
The willingness among companies in Germany to hire new staff has taken a significant knock. The ifo Employment Barometer fell to 101.1 points in July, down from 103.3 points in June. Overall, companies are still planning to recruit new staff, but have become more cautious in their personnel planning due to the current high level of uncertainty.
Business Expectations in Germany’s Chemical Industry Brighten Further
The ifo Business Climate in Germany’s chemical industry brightened in April. It rose to -3.1 points, up from -10.5 points* in March. There was a particular improvement in business expectations, with that indicator rising to 13.3 points – its highest level since December 2021. However, the majority of companies surveyed described their current situation as poor. “The chemical industry is deriving confidence from the easing in supply bottlenecks and lower energy prices. But this industry’s current order situation remains weak,” says industry expert Anna Wolf of the ifo Institute.
ifo Business Climate Saxony: Sentiment Remains Subdued (February 2024)
The business climate in Saxony deteriorated slightly in February. The barometer of business sentiment in Saxony’s economy fell from 91.0 points in January to 90.2 points in February, marking the third month in a row to see a decrease. The companies surveyed assessed their business situation as marginally worse than in January; they reduced their expectations for the coming months slightly.
ifo Export Expectations Somewhat Brighter (December 2020)
Sentiment among German exporters has brightened somewhat. The ifo Export Expectations for manufacturing rose in December from minus 1.0 to plus 1.4 points. Germany’s export industry is cautious regarding the first quarter of 2021, as there are still too many uncertainties clouding the outlook, such as the unresolved Brexit deal.
Inflation Continues to Decline in Germany
ifo price expectations in Germany fell to 14.3 points in March, down from 15.0 points in February. This is their lowest level since March 2021. “Inflation is still on the decline and should fall below 2% this summer. From a German perspective, there’s no reason why the ECB shouldn’t cut interest rates soon,” says Timo Wollmershäuser, Head of Forecasts at ifo.
ifo Business Climate Eastern Germany: Index Decreased (May 2023)
Sentiment among eastern German companies cooled a bit in May. The ifo Business Climate Index for the entire regional economy fell to 96.2 points, down from 96.5 points in April. The companies surveyed slightly raised their assessments of the current situation, while their outlook for the next six months worsened noticeably.
ifo Business Climate Index Falls across the Board (September 2022)
Sentiment in the German economy has deteriorated considerably. The ifo Business Climate Index fell to 84.3 points in September, down from 88.6 points (seasonally adjusted) in August. This is its lowest value since May 2020. The decline is affecting all four sectors of the economy. Companies assessed their current business as clearly worse. Pessimism regarding the coming months has grown decidedly; in retail, expectations have fallen to a record low. The German economy is slipping into recession.
Number of Short-Time Workers in Germany Drops Despite Slowdown
The number of short-time workers in Germany has fallen despite the economic slowdown. In August, 110,000 people were on short-time work, down from 150,000* in May, according to estimates by the ifo Institute based on the ifo Business Survey and figures from the German Federal Employment Agency. “Germany’s weak economy has had little effect so far. One reason for this may be that the regulations facilitating access to short-time allowances expired at the end of June,” says ifo labor market researcher Sebastian Link. As a share of the workforce, the figure fell from 0.4 to 0.3%.
ifo Business Climate Index Saxony Drops (May 2022)
The ifo Business Climate Index Saxony dropped noticeably in May. The barometer of business sentiment in Saxony’s economy fell to 95.0 points, down from 96.5 points in April. Business expectations among companies in Saxony suppressed the business climate as the companies surveyed view the next six months with skepticism. In their assessments of the current business situation, the companies were optimistic – a trend driven mainly by the service sector.