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.
ifo Business Climate Index Sees a Minimal Decline (August 2022)
A bleak mood hangs over the German economy. The ifo Business Climate Index fell in August to 88.5 points, down from 88.7 points (seasonally adjusted) in July. Companies were somewhat less satisfied with their current business, and the strong pessimism of their outlook for the coming months is virtually unchanged. Uncertainty among the companies remains high, and the German economy as a whole is expected to shrink in the third quarter.
ifo Business Climate Saxony Cools Down Considerably (July 2022)
The ifo Business Climate Index Saxony took a noticeable dip in July. The barometer of business sentiment in Saxony’s economy fell to 93.2 points, down from 94.7 points in June. Companies in the region assess their current business situation as slightly worse than in the previous month. They are also lowering their business expectations considerably.
Sonja Ingarsia
Team Assistant
ifo Business Climate Eastern Germany Takes a Considerable Downturn (July 2022)
Sentiment among companies in eastern Germany cooled significantly in July. The ifo Business Climate Index for the entire regional economy fell to 92.1 points, down from 94.1 points in June. The survey participants’ assessments of their current situation declined slightly, and their outlook became noticeably more negative.
BI Office
Franziska Binder
BI Office
Ulrike Baldi-Cohrs
Dr. Michaela Paffenholz
Economist
ifo Employment Barometer Falls Again (July 2022)
The willingness among companies in Germany to hire new staff has taken a significant knock. The ifo Employment Barometer fell to 101.1 points in July, down from 103.3 points in June. Overall, companies are still planning to recruit new staff, but have become more cautious in their personnel planning due to the current high level of uncertainty.
ifo Export Expectations Fall (July 2022)
Sentiment among German exporters has darkened again. The ifo Export Expectations fell to minus 0.5 points in July, down from plus 3.4 points in June. Positive and negative responses are currently in balance. The gas shortage is putting a strain on German exports.
ifo Business Climate Index Falls Considerably (July 2022)
Sentiment in German business has cooled significantly. The ifo Business Climate Index fell to 88.6 points in July, down from 92.2 points (seasonally adjusted) in June, to reach its lowest value since June 2020. Companies are expecting business to become much more difficult in the coming months. They were also less satisfied with their current situation. Higher energy prices and the threat of a gas shortage are weighing on the economy. Germany is on the cusp of a recession.
Economic Experts Survey: High Inflation Expectations Worldwide for the Next Few Years (2 Quarter 2022)
What are economists’ expectations regarding future price developments? This round of the Economic Expert Survey (EES), conducted by the ifo Institute and the Swiss Economic Policy Institute, examines the inflation expectations of economists worldwide. The result: high price increases are expected worldwide in the coming years.
HR Policy Challenges in the Crisis Year 2022 – What Measures are German HR Departments Taking? (Q2 2022)
In the second quarter, the Randstad-ifo Personnel Manager Survey looked at the impact of current events surrounding the war in Ukraine on HR policy and how companies are dealing with this situation. What measures are companies taking to counteract rising (energy) costs as well as inflation and thus create relief for the company itself, but also and above all for employees? Another focus was on wage-specific aspects: Have wages already been increased, and what about bonus payments? A further point is the integration of refugees from Ukraine into the labor market.
Alexander Bertermann
Junior Economist and Doctoral Student
Moritz Seebacher
Junior Economist and Doctoral Student
Economic Experts Survey: Economists See Bright Spot for Political Situation in Almost All World Regions (Q2 2022)
The assessment of the political situation has improved in many regions of the world compared to the first quarter of 2022, in some cases substantially. However, there are strong regional differences in the global assessment of current economic policy. These are the main findings of the Economic Experts Survey (EES), a global survey of economic experts conducted jointly by the ifo Institute and the Swiss Institute for Economic Policy (IWP) on a quarterly basis.
ifo Business Climate Index Saxony Falls Slightly (June 2022)
The ifo Business Climate Index Saxony dropped slightly in June. The barometer of business sentiment in Saxony’s economy fell to 94.7 points, down by 0.3 points from May. The change was driven by worsening business expectations. Meanwhile, assessments of the current situation among companies in Saxony remained largely the same.
Victor Tuekam
Junior Economist and Doctoral Student
ifo Business Climate Eastern Germany Falls Slightly (June 2022)
Sentiment among companies in eastern Germany saw a slight decrease in June. The ifo Business Climate Index for the entire regional economy fell to 94.1 points, down from 94.5 points in May. The survey participants’ assessments of their current situation improved marginally. At the same time, their outlook became slightly more negative. The gap between situation and expectations is widening, which is an expression of great uncertainty.
ifo Employment Barometer Falls (June 2022)
German companies are becoming more reluctant to hire new staff. The ifo Employment Barometer fell to 103.3 points in June, down from 104.0 points in May. Yet, demand for labor remains high. The shortage of skilled workers is still a key problem for German companies.
ifo Economic Forecast for Eastern Germany and Saxony Summer 2022: Robust Despite Turbulence
The outlook for the global economy has deteriorated significantly since December 2021. Nevertheless, the economy in eastern Germany and Saxony is likely to continue expanding. In the current year, economic output in those regions will grow by 2.9 and 1.8 percent respectively (Germany: 2.5 percent). Assuming that it is still possible to avoid an undersupply of natural gas this coming winter, economic output in eastern Germany is likely to be 3.5 percent higher year over year in 2023; in Saxony, gross domestic product will increase by 3.3 percent (Germany: 3.7 percent).
