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ifo Export Expectations Rise Considerably (March 2021)
A feeling of great optimism is emerging among German exporters. In March, the ifo Export Expectations in manufacturing rose from 11.9 points to 24.9 points – its highest level since January 2011. The export industry is benefiting from strong economic activity in Asia and the US. Momentum is slowly picking up again in the euro area, too.
ifo Business Climate Eastern Germany Declines (December 2021)
Sentiment among companies in eastern Germany fell significantly in December. The ifo Business Climate Index for the entire regional economy continued to slide, falling to 96.0 points, down from 97.5 points in November. Participating companies reported a marked decline in their assessments of the current situation. At the same time, their expectations dropped somewhat compared to the previous month.
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.
US Election: Economists Have High Hopes for the New President Biden
On November 3, 2020, the United States went to the polls: Democrat Joe Biden won. In an election thriller, he prevailed against the Republican incumbent Donald Trump and next year will head the US government as the country’s 46th president.
Business Climate of the Self-Employed in Germany improved somewhat
The business climate for solo self-employed and microenterprises in Germany improved somewhat in April. The “Jimdo-ifo Business Climate Index for the Self-Employed” rose to -13.8 points*, up from -15.6 points* in March. Dissatisfaction with current business has decreased slightly, as has skepticism regarding expectations for the next six months. The signal coming from service providers is particularly positive. Here, order backlogs are slowly stabilizing. “The self-employed are hoping that the order situation will ease,” ifo Expert Katrin Demmelhuber says.
ifo Education Survey 2023: What Germans Think about the Quality of Schools
How do the Germans grade the schools in their federal state? Where do they see serious problems in the school system? And what solutions do they prefer - for example, for teacher shortage? The ifo Education Survey 2023 examines these and other questions.
The German Debt Brake – Anchor of Stability or Blocker of Investments?
On November 15, 2023, the Second Senate of Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court declared the second supplementary budget for 2021 unconstitutional. The reasons given included a violation of the debt brake enshrined in the country’s Basic Law (Art. 109 and Art. 115). As a result, the regular budget and parts of the special funds for 2023 and 2024 will have to be significantly restructured. The 45th ifo and FAZ Economists Panel is dedicated to the consequences of the ruling and focuses on the debt brake, which was at the center of discussions following the ruling. The survey, in which 187 economics professors took part, was conducted from November 28 to December 5, 2023.
ifo Business Climate in Eastern Germany Declines Significantly (July 2021)
Sentiment among companies in eastern Germany cooled significantly in July. The ifo Business Climate Index for the entire regional economy fell to 101.4 points, down from 102.6 points in June. Compared to the previous month, companies’ assessments of the current situation jumped even as their expectations plummeted.
ifo Export Expectations Recover (April 2022)
After collapsing in March, sentiment among German exporters has recovered somewhat. The ifo Export Expectations rose from minus 2.9 in March to plus 3.5 points in April. Despite high uncertainty and logistics problems, there are currently signs of a stabilization of export sentiments.
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.
Personnel Policy Implications Due to Demographic Change (2nd Quarter 2023)
In the second quarter of 2023, the Randstad ifo Personnel Manager survey explored demographic change and its impact on HR policy, as well as the role of older employees now and in the near future.
ifo Business Climate Saxony: Climate Warms Slightly (March 2024)
Not only did March bring a gradual rise in outdoor temperatures, but it also warmed up the business climate in Saxony. The barometer of business sentiment in Saxony’s economy rose from 90.2 to 91.6 points. The companies surveyed raised their assessments of the business situation significantly and their business expectations slightly compared to February.
ifo Business Climate Index Falls (June 2022)
Sentiment in German business has clouded over. The ifo Business Climate Index fell to 92.3 points in June, down from 93.0 points in May. Companies were somewhat less satisfied with their current business situation. Their expectations turned markedly more pessimistic. The threat of gas shortages is of great concern to the German economy.
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.”
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.
Availability of Materials in Germany Approaching Pre-coronavirus Levels
German manufacturers hardly have to struggle with material shortages anymore. In March, 10.2% of the companies surveyed reported shortages, down from 14.6% in February. “The supply of raw materials and intermediate products has recently seen significant improvement,” says Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of Surveys at ifo. “The situation is now almost back to how it was before the coronavirus crisis.”
Material Shortages Ease in German Manufacturing
German manufacturing is seeing fewer material shortages. In June, 31.9% of the companies surveyed reported shortages, down from 35.3% in May. However, this is still much higher than the long-term average of 15.2%. “Unfortunately, the easing does little to counteract the darkening mood in manufacturing,” says Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of Surveys at ifo. “Companies can process their existing orders faster, but they are currently receiving too few new ones.”
Order Cancellations in German Residential Construction Reach a New High
Germany’s wave of cancellations in residential construction continues. In October, 22.2% of companies reported canceled projects, up from 21.4% in the previous month. “It’s getting worse all the time, with more and more projects failing due to higher interest rates and elevated construction prices,” says Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of Surveys at ifo. “In residential construction, new business remains very low and companies’ order backlogs are diminishing.”
ifo Business Climate Index Rises Steeply (May 2021)
Sentiment among German managers has improved considerably. The ifo Business Climate Index rose from 96.6 points (seasonally adjusted) in April to 99.2 points in May. This is its highest value since May 2019. Companies were more satisfied with their current business situation. They are also more optimistic regarding the coming months. The German economy is picking up speed.
ifo Business Climate Saxony Rises Further (February 2022)
The ifo Business Climate Index Saxony continued to climb in February. The barometer of business sentiment in Saxony’s economy rose from 100.5 to 101.7 points. This is the second consecutive improvement in the index. The main reason for this was a sharp improvement in assessments of the current situation. Business expectations for the coming six months were slightly lower.