Wholesaling (west):
Trade between producers and industrial customers improves

The slight improvement of the business situation in western German wholesaling resulted from the favourable development in trade between producers and industrial customers, whereas in consumer goods (including food and beverages) judgements were more negative than in the previous month. The sluggish sales activity contributed to only partial relief of excess inventories. Since the enterprises assessed their business outlook for the coming half year with only reduced pessimism, they intend to order less than twelve months ago.