Economic Forecasts
Economic forecasts estimate how the economy will develop in the future. They focus on speed changes and turning points in key macroeconomic variables. This information helps companies and private households to make decisions on their investment and spending plans. The government also uses economic forecasts to adjust its policy instruments.
The ifo Institute publishes the ifo Economic Forecast for Germany four times a year and the ifo Economic Forecast for East Germany and Saxony twice a year. ifoCAST generates forecasts of current German GDP with the help of a statistical model that works with historical correlations. Since the German economy is closely intertwined with the world economy and in particular with the European economy, the ifo Institute is also concerned with a forecast of economic developments in the European Union and in other important countries worldwide. For its forecasts, the ifo Institute uses a variety of modern methods and critically examines the quality of its own results every year.
Further forecast in which the ifo Institute is involved:
- The Joint Economic Forecast: A joint research project by several economic institutes on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, published twice a year.
