Katrin Demmelhuber

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.

Sentiment among the self-employed in Germany has improved. The Business Climate Index rose to -14.6 points* in February, up from -22.6 points* in January. This is a finding from the latest ifo survey for this segment (“Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed”). The rise was due to less pessimistic expectations. However, the self-employed are particularly dissatisfied with their order backlog, which continues to shrink. “This segment is still far from optimistic,” says ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber.

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.”

The business climate for the self-employed in Germany improved slightly at the end of the year, finds the latest ifo survey for this segment (“Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed”). The index rose to -17.5 points* in December, up from -18.8 points* in November. “It’s too early to talk of a trend reversal,” says ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber. “The self-employed are currently a long way from an economic recovery.”

The business climate for Germany’s self-employed has deteriorated, finds the latest ifo survey for this segment (“Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed”). The index fell to -18.8 points* in November, down from -16.2 points* in October. “In contrast to the economy as a whole, there’s still no light at the end of the tunnel for Germany’s self-employed,” says ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber. “We don’t see any sign of a recovery on the horizon.”

The business climate for Germany’s self-employed has deteriorated, finds the latest ifo survey for this segment (“Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed”). The index fell to -16.2 points* in October, down from -14.4 points* in September. “In September, it seemed as though things were looking up for the self-employed. October failed to bear this out,” says ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber. “The situation for the self-employed remains tense.”

The business climate for Germany’s self-employed has brightened considerably, finds the latest ifo survey for this segment (“Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed”). In September, the index rose to -14.4 points*, up from -19.9 points* in August. “The country’s self-employed appear to be recovering from their economic low point,” explains ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber. “Whether this improvement will last will become clear over the next few months.”

The business climate for Germany’s self-employed has deteriorated for the fifth time in a row, finds the latest ifo survey for this segment (“Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed”). The index fell to minus 19.9 points* in August, down from minus 16.4 points* in July. “The situation in the German economy is tense,” says ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber. “For the self-employed, the risk of entering a downward spiral is increasing.”

The business climate for Germany’s self-employed has deteriorated for the fourth time in a row, finds the latest ifo survey for this segment (“Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed”). The index fell to -16.4 points* in July, down from -12.6 points* in June. “Germany’s economy is going through a weak phase,” says ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber. “The country’s self-employed cannot escape this.”

The business climate for Germany’s self-employed has deteriorated, finds the latest ifo survey for this segment (“Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed”). The index fell to -12.6 points* in June, down from -8.6 points* in May. “There’s a kind of domino effect at work here,” says ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber. “Since many large companies are short of orders, they’re also placing fewer orders with the self-employed.”

The business climate for Germany’s self-employed has deteriorated. This is a finding by the latest ifo survey for this segment (“Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed”). The index fell from -3.2 points in April to -8.6 points in May. “The business community’s worry lines are deepening,” says ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber. “Not enough new orders are coming in at present.”

The business climate for Germany’s self-employed has deteriorated, finds the latest index for this segment (“Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed”). This index fell to minus 3.2 points (not seasonally adjusted) in April, down from plus 1.8 points (not seasonally adjusted) in March. “In contrast to the economy as a whole, the recovery made in the previous month quickly disappeared again,” says ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber. “Developments for the self-employed and microenterprises currently lack momentum.”

The business climate for Germany’s self-employed improved in March, finds the latest index for this segment (“Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed”). It rose from minus 1.1 points (not seasonally adjusted) in February to plus 1.8 points (not seasonally adjusted) in March. This puts it above zero for the first time since February 2022. “Business is better at the beginning of spring,” says ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber. “As with the economy as a whole, however, there’s still plenty of room for improvement.”