Retailing: Business Situation Improves

The business climate in retailing cooled down fractionally in December. Expectations for the next six months were significantly less optimistic. Thanks to favourable developments in sales and slightly lower pressure due to high inventories, assessments of the current business situation, by contrast, were more positive than last month. Companies expected to be able to implement increases in sales prices. For the first time in six months their personnel plans point to a slight reduction in overall staff numbers.