Retailing (east):
Increased pessimism

The firms in east Germany assessed both their current situation and the outlook for the coming half year considerably more negatively than in the previous month. Excess inventories have been reduced in part, which was also reflected in the less restrictive order plans. In contrast to the survey participants in west Germany, the east German firms see possibilities for an upward adjustments of prices in the coming months. The responses on planned staff reductions declined somewhat in both survey areas.