Construction (west):
Continuing job losses

The responses from the western German construction industry point to improved but still very unsatisfactory business conditions, both in building construction and in civil engineering. Equipment utilisation increased somewhat and at 59% was around two percentage points above the comparable previous year level. Order reserves remained unchanged at 2.2 production months (previous year: 2.6 months), but the firms complained a little less frequently about their unsatisfactory order position. The business expectations continue to be marked by pessimism, and an activation of building activity is not expected in the coming months.