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ifo Export Expectations Rise (May 2022)
Sentiment among German exporters has brightened. The ifo Export Expectations rose from plus 3.0 in April to plus 4.5 points in May. But German manufacturers remain cautious, and logistics problems continue to be a considerable burden. There are no signs of any major changes in exports at this time.
ifo Employment Barometer Climbs Again (August 2020)
German companies are scaling back their layoff plans. The ifo Employment Barometer climbed to 95.4 points in August after measuring 93.2 points in July. A turnaround is imminent on the German labor market: after layoffs in recent months, the first signals for new hires have now appeared.
ifo Business Climate Index Rises (December 2022)
Sentiment in the German economy has brightened considerably. The ifo Business Climate Index rose to 88.6 points in December, up from 86.4 points (seasonally adjusted) in November. Companies assessed their current situation as better again. This comes on the heels of six consecutive falls in the indicator for the current situation. Expectations also improved noticeably. German business is entering the holiday season with a sense of hope.
ifo Business Climate Saxony Climbs (November 2023)
The business climate in Saxony improved considerably in November. The monthly sentiment barometer for the Saxon economy rose to 92.9 points. The Saxon companies surveyed assessed their current business situation as tangibly better than in October, and they raised their business expectations somewhat.
ifo Employment Barometer Drops (January 2022)
German companies are less willing to hire new staff. The ifo Employment Barometer fell to 102.4 points in January, down from 102.9 points in December. Companies in hospitality and event organizers in particular are planning to reduce, not expand, their headcount.
ifo Export Expectations Rise Considerably (March 2024)
Sentiment in the German export industry is markedly brighter. The ifo Export Expectations rose to -1.4 points in March, up from -7.0 points in February. “World trade ought to pick up in the months ahead,” says Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of Surveys at ifo, “and German exporters hope to benefit from this.”
ifo Export Expectations Improved Noticeably (January 2021)
Sentiment among German exporters has become considerably brighter. In January, the ifo Export Expectations in manufacturing rose from 1.9 points to 6.0 points. This is its highest level since October. Clarity on Brexit and the US presidency, a robust industrial economy, and the start of vaccination campaigns worldwide led to cautious optimism in the German export sector.
More Supply Bottlenecks in German Food Retail
The proportion of food retailers in Germany with supply problems has increased. In June, 79.7% reported bottlenecks, up from 65.8% in May. “Retailers are still in difficult negotiations with manufacturers on prices and conditions for certain goods. Supply freezes by manufacturers and the delisting of certain products by retailers are some of the ways the players are exerting pressure,” says ifo expert Patrick Höppner.
ifo Business Climate Saxony Falls (September 2021)
The ifo Business Climate Index Saxony fell a little in September. The barometer of business sentiment in Saxony’s economy declined from 102.7 to 101.8 points, primarily as a result of a sharp deterioration in assessments of the current business situation. Business expectations for the coming six months rose marginally in September.
German Export Expectations Fall (January 2024)
Sentiment in the German export industry has clouded over. The ifo Export Expectations fell to -8.4 points in January, down from -7.1 points in December. “The German export economy is off to a worse start in the new year,” says Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of Surveys at ifo. “Exporters need fresh momentum.”
ifo Business Climate Saxony Falls Slightly (August 2021)
In August 2021, the ifo Business Climate Index Saxony took a slight dip. The barometer of business sentiment in Saxony’s economy fell from 103.0 to 102.6 points, due primarily to a distinct drop in business expectations. Over the same period, assessments of the current situation improved greatly.
ifo Employment Barometer Rises Slightly (November 2021)
German companies are putting a little more effort into recruitment than they were last month. The ifo Employment Barometer rose to 103.8 points in November, up from 103.7 points in October. Supply problems and the latest coronavirus wave do not appear to be having a marked impact on companies’ personnel planning.
ifo Employment Barometer Rises (April 2023)
Companies in Germany are more willing to hire new staff. The ifo Employment Barometer rose to 100.2 points in April, up from 99.9 points in March. “Employment is continuing to grow, although that growth is slowing, partly because of the shrinking population,” says Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of Surveys at ifo. “The drivers of employment growth in Germany are the service providers.”
Worsening Order Shortage Weighs on the Self-Employed in Germany
Many of Germany’s self-employed reported that their order intake in January was too low. The proportion of those with this complaint increased to 47.9% at the start of the year, up from 45.3% in October. This is a finding from the latest ifo survey for this segment (“Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed”). “The order books of the self-employed are plainly melting away,” says ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber, “and the resulting decline in sales is a cause for concern.”
ifo Business Climate East Germany Falls (October 2020)
Sentiment among companies in Saxony deteriorated noticeably in October. The ifo Business Climate Index for the region’s economy as a whole fell from 95.7 to 94.0 points. This is mostly due to a clear drop in business expectations. Assessments of the current situation also fell slightly.
Fewer Supply Bottlenecks in German Retail
Supply bottlenecks at German retailers eased in May. In May, 41.3% of the businesses surveyed reported shortages, down from 45.7% in April. “The share of retailers affected by supply problems has been falling steadily since the beginning of the year,” says ifo expert Patrick Höppner. “However, the business situation remains gloomy for many. Fewer consumers are going to shops, and when they do they’re buying less due to inflation,” he adds.
ifo Business Climate Eastern Germany: Upward Trend Unbroken (September 2020)
Sentiment among eastern German companies continued to improve in September. The ifo Business Climate Index for the entire regional economy in eastern Germany rose from 94.5 points to 95.8 points. Both the assessments of the current situation and the business expectations of the eastern German companies surveyed increased, even if they are not yet back up to pre-crisis levels.
ifo Employment Barometer Rises (January 2023)
The willingness among companies in Germany to hire new staff has increased. The ifo Employment Barometer rose to 100.2 points in January, up from 99.6 points in December. As pessimism wanes in the German economy, the labor market is following suit.
Business Situation in German Retail Deteriorates
Companies in most retail segments in Germany assess their business situation as worse. “Expectations for the coming months also remain cautious. The further cooling of the economy is having an impact on retailers, who have also recently had to cope with weakening consumer demand,” says ifo expert Patrick Höppner.
Uncertainty Dampens the Mood of the Self-Employed in Germany
Uncertainty among the self-employed in Germany has increased. As a result, the business climate for this segment has deteriorated, according to the latest ifo survey in March (“Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed”). The index fell to -15.6 points*, down from -14.6 points* in February. “Contrary to the situation in the other sectors of the economy, the self-employed are experiencing increasing doubt,” says ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber.