Construction (west):
Renewed worsening of business situation

The business climate in the west German construction industry slipped even deeper into the unfavourable zone in April, with contractors assessing their business situation as pessimistically as they did two and a half years ago. With declining production, the equipment utilisation rate dropped; at 61% it fell below the previous-year level. Especially in building construction, order reserves were appraised as very unsatisfactory.