Emmanuel Thomas, DPA, Saturday, May 6, 2023
BERLIN – Companies in Germany are now more optimistic about the future than they were last autumn, with about 36% predicting higher production this year versus 25% in November, according to a report published on Saturday.
The figures come from a survey of 2,327 companies between mid-March and mid-April conducted by the German Economic Institute (IW) in Cologne.
The share of firms expecting a decline in production fell from 39% in the November survey to 26% now.
Overall, companies in Germany assessed their business situation in spring 2023 as slightly better than in late autumn 2022, the IW said in a summary of the survey results.
This reflects the more favourable macroeconomic conditions, especially the improved supply chain situation, but also the absence of an energy shortage and a decline in energy prices.
But the institute noted that the situation varies from sector to sector, with the services and capital goods more optimistic than the basic materials/energy sector and the construction industry. The latter areas assessed the current situation as worse than a year ago.