New indicator: Ifo Employment Barometer for Germany

The new Ifo indicator, the Employment Barometer for Germany, is based on ca. 7,000 monthly survey responses of businesses in manufacturing, construction, wholesaling and retailing and was released for the first time in September 2006. The firms were asked to report their employment plans for the coming three months. The Ifo Employment Barometer will be calculated monthly and published in the Financial Times Deutschland. In September the Ifo Employment Barometer fell for German industry and trade after having risen in the previous two months. The survey results thus indicate for a continuingly positive employment situation.