ifo Media Center
The ifo Institute invites you to participate in the discussion of interesting economic topics via the Internet. In our ifo Media Center a whole series of remarkable events are available and can be viewed in full length. We also record selected speeches and presentations given by employees or at events and make them available in our Media Center.
EBDC Business Expectations Panel (2023)
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ifo Business Survey Industry (2023b)
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ifo Business Survey Trade (2023b)
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ifo Business Survey Service (2023b)
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Business Climate in German Retail Improves Markedly Before Easter
The ifo Business Climate in retail brightened noticeably in March. The indicator for assessments of the current business situation rose to -7.3 points, up from -18.1 points* in February. There was a clear improvement in business expectations, too. “The pessimism that has been such a feature of recent times is receding. Business in the run-up to Easter has apparently brought a ray of hope for many retailers,” says ifo expert Patrick Höppner.
ifo Business Climate Eastern Germany Blossoms with the Start of Spring (March 2024)
The ifo Business Climate Index Eastern Germany rose considerably in March. The barometer of business sentiment for the regional economy in eastern Germany climbed to 90.0 points, up from 88.6 points in February. The eastern German companies surveyed provided assessments of their business situation that were somewhat better than the previous month, and they also raised their business expectations slightly.
Joint Economic Forecast Spring 2024: Headwinds from Germany and Abroad – Institutes Revise Forecast Significantly Downward
The five leading economic research institutes believe that the German economy is in trouble. In their spring report, they have revised their forecast for the current year significantly downward and now only expect economic output to grow by 0.1%.
ifo Employment Barometer Rises (March 2024)
Companies in Germany are again looking to hire more staff. The ifo Employment Barometer rose to 96.3 points in March, up from 94.9 points in February. “Companies are currently more willing to hire because they are better able to assess the economic conditions. Skilled workers continue to be in demand,” says Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of Surveys at ifo.
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 Business Climate Index rises (March 2024)
Sentiment in German companies has improved noticeably. The ifo Business Climate Index rose to 87.8 points in March, up from 85.7 points in February. In particular, companies’ expectations turned much less pessimistic. Assessments of the current business situation also improved. The German economy glimpses light on the horizon.
Germany’s Shortage of Skilled Workers Eases Slightly
The shortage of skilled workers among companies in Germany has eased somewhat. According to the survey, 36.3% of firms are currently suffering from a shortage of qualified workers, down from 38.7% in October 2023. A year ago, it was 43.6%. “The weakening economy is reducing demand for skilled workers in the short term,” says ifo expert Klaus Wohlrabe, “but the fundamental problem is here to stay.”
Business Climate in German Retail Remains Gloomy
The ifo Business Climate in Germany’s retail deteriorated in February for the third consecutive month, finds the latest ifo Institute survey. The indicator for assessments of the current business situation fell to -18 points, down from -15.2 points* in January. Expectations improved only slightly, with the indicator remaining at the low level of -36.7 points. “The economic environment remains very challenging for retailers,” says ifo expert Patrick Höppner. “Consumers are holding back on shopping, which is putting a strain on retailers’ businesses.”
Sentiment in German Residential Construction Reaches Another All-Time Low
The ifo Business Climate in residential construction has reached a new low. It fell to -61.9 points in February, down from -60.7 points in January. More than half of the construction companies surveyed are dissatisfied with the current situation. Expectations are also stuck at rock bottom. “At present there isn’t a single ray of hope on the horizon for residential construction,” says Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of Surveys at ifo. “Orders continue to be canceled. At the same time, building permits for apartments are in free fall.”
Business Climate in Germany’s Chemical Industry Improves Slightly
In February, the business climate in the German chemical industry brightened a little. The indicator rose to -15.7 points, up from -16.1 points* in January, due to better assessments of the current business situation. Expectations, however, turned somewhat more pessimistic again. “The climate in the German chemical industry is still rough, but there have also been some surprising rays of hope,” says industry expert Anna Wolf of the ifo Institute.
Improved Sentiment among the Self-Employed in Germany
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.
ifo Economic Forecast Spring 2024: German Economy Paralyzed
Sentiment among companies and households is poor and uncertainty is high. Price-adjusted gross domestic product will increase by only 0.2 percent this year compared to the previous year. Next year, economic output will then increase by 1.5 percent. This means that the growth forecast for the current year has been significantly lowered (by 0.7 percentage points) compared to the ifo Economic Forecast Winter 2023 and slightly raised (by 0.2 percentage points) for 2025. Contrary to expectations, the German economy is in recession in the winter half-year 2023/24. In particular, a recovery in industrial activity will not set in until later
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.
Working from Home Firmly Established in Germany
In February, 24.1% of employees in Germany worked from home at least part of the time. This is the finding of an ifo Institute survey of just under 9,000 companies. “The proportion has remained almost constant for two years,” says ifo expert Jean-Victor Alipour. “Regardless of the debates at individual companies about returning to the office, working from home has become firmly established in Germany.”
A Small Dent in the German Automotive Industry’s Business Climate
The business climate in Germany’s automotive industry deteriorated slightly in February after a noticeable brightening in January, according to the ifo Business Survey. “However, with a value of -10.1 points, the industry index is still well above where it was when it bottomed out in 2023,” says Anita Wölfl, a specialist at the ifo Center for Industrial Organization and New Technologies.
Material Shortages Worsen Somewhat in German Manufacturing
Material shortages in German manufacturing have become slightly worse. In February, 14.6% of the companies surveyed reported shortages, up from 12.5% in January. These are findings from the ifo Institute’s latest survey. “In addition to the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea, the rail strike in Germany has also led to a shortage of raw materials and intermediate products at some companies,” says Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of Surveys at ifo. “Nevertheless, the supply bottlenecks are not a fundamental problem for industrial production. At present, we’re mainly seeing delays within supply chains, not a total breakdown.”
