Economic Assessments Remain Sceptical

The index of current situation assessments for the total economy lost 4.9 points in June and was once again more clearly in negative territory at –6.8 points. In the manufacturing sector, which is particularly important for the economy, the situation index lost 4.9 points and, at –24.5 points, remained well below the zero line that separates positive from negative situation assessments. In the construction industry, the situation index rose slightly (+0.6 points), but remained in negative territory at –2.7 points. In the services sector, the situation index fell significantly (–5.0 points), but was still in positive territory with a value of 1.6 points. The situation index also deteriorated in the retail trade (–9.9 points) and was only just above the zero line at 1.6 points.

The index of business expectations for the total economy deteriorated only slightly by 0.3 points in June and, at –6.5 points, was below the zero line that separates negative from positive economic expectations. In the retail trade, the expectations index rose slightly (+0.3 points), but remained in the sceptical economic expectations range at –14.4 points. In the services sector, the expectations index fell (–1.6 points) and was back in negative territory at –1.0 points. Expectations in the construction industry improved (+1.1 points). However, at –2.0 points, the index remained below the zero line. The expectations index for manufacturing also showed a slight improvement in June (+0.8 points). However, at –15.4 points, the index remained in the sceptical economic expectations range.