Wholesaling (Germany):
Brighter outlook

Wholesalers evaluated their current business situation a little less favourably than in the previous month. In the consumer durable sector and to a lesser extent in industrial B2B, the positive responses predominated, however. The outlook was again appraised a little more confidently. Since the warehouse pressure made itself noticeable a little more strongly, the ordering plans are only occasionally expansive. According to the survey responses, prices will be raised in the next months even though the share of such responses has decreased again. Price increases are expected especially by food and beverage wholesalers. In the assessments of the business situation in eastern German wholesaling, the positive responses held the balance only slightly, although they have succeeded in reducing excess inventories. Scepticism in the expectations decreased again somewhat, but in their ordering plans the firms remain cautious. Prices are expected to increase clearly in the coming months.