Manufacturing (west):
Falling business climate trend halted

In west German manufacturing the assessments of the current business situation were more negative than in October as a result of a worsening in intermediate products and capital goods. In both of these areas, which usually provide the early cyclical signals, there has been a clear improvement in the business outlook, in contrast to the consumer goods area. The business climate in manufacturing as a whole remains, largely unchanged, in the frigid zone. Firms were slightly less sceptical than in October regarding the export outlook.