Retailing (east):
Business climate less chilly

Also in eastern German retailing, the business situation was judged considerably less unfavourably than in the previous month. For the first time in months, sales growth was reported. Firms also managed to keep on decreasing their excess inventories, but order plans still signal cut-backs. In the business expectations, reduced scepticism was expressed, and in most areas there seems to be some scope for price increases. The share of enterprises that expect to reduce personnel has decreased somewhat both in western and in eastern Germany.