Retailing (east):
Business situation improved again

East German retailers reported a further improvement of their current business situation, giving - as in February - clearly less negative assessments as in the west. The enterprises still regard future business sceptically and faced with brimful warehouses plan to order less than at the same time a year ago. Whereas in west Germany the scope for price increases is regarded as small in the coming months, in the east firms believe they can achieve higher prices, especially for consumer durable goods. Staff reductions might decrease in eastern Germany a little but could accelerate in the west.