Press release -

ifo Business Climate Index Unchanged (October 2019)

Sentiment among German executives is unchanged in October. The ifo Business Climate Index remained at 94.6 points. Companies’ assessment of the current situation was slightly worse than last month. However, the outlook improved slightly. The German economy is stabilizing.

In manufacturing, a stop has been put to the downward trend for now. The index rose as a result of noticeably less pessimistic expectations. However, companies assessed their current situation a little less positively. Capacity utilization fell by 1.3 percentage points to 82.6 percent. This is the first time since the third quarter of 2013 that this number has been below its long-term average of 83.7 percent.

In services, the business climate is essentially unchanged. While service providers were less satisfied with their current situation, their expectations brightened.

The business climate in trade has improved, thanks to considerably higher expectations in wholesale. However, assessments of the current situation were somewhat less positive in both wholesale and retail.

In construction, the Business Climate Indicator has fallen. Companies were still very satisfied with their current situation, albeit less so than in September. Similarly, their expectations fell somewhat.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Clemens Fuest
President

 

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Contact
Dr. Klaus Wohlrabe

Dr. Klaus Wohlrabe

Deputy Director of the ifo Center for Macroeconomics and Surveys and Head of Surveys
Tel
+49(0)89/9224-1229
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+49(0)89/9224-1463
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Harald Schultz

Harald Schultz

Press Officer
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+49(0)89/9224-1218
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+49(0)89/907795-1218
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