Economic Expectations Improve

The index of current business situation assessments rose in April (+5.0 points) and was higher in positive territory at 12.7 points. In manufacturing, which is particularly sensitive to the economic situation, the situation index lost 2.0 points compared to the previous month and was below the zero line at –1.4 points. In the construction industry the situation index gained 3.5 points and was in positive territory at 15.2 points. In the service sectors, the index increased by 9.4 points compared to the previous month and signalled positive economic assessments with a value of 21.4 points. In the retail trade sector, too, the situation index rose by 6.3 points and was again more clearly in positive territory at 8.4 points.

The index of business expectations for the overall economy rose by 7.4 points in April and at 9.4 points was again noticeably above the zero-line separating negative from positive economic expectations. In the retail trade sector, the expectations index rose by 47 points, but remained deep in the sceptical range at –12.3 points. In the service sectors, the expectations index gained 10.8 points and was noticeably positive at 18.9 points. In the construction industry, on the other hand, the expectations index fell by 0.9 points, but remained in positive territory at 16.3 points. This high value is largely due to the continued above-average construction price expectations. In manufacturing, the expectations index improved significantly (+5.4 points). However, at 2.0 points the index was only just above the zero-line separating positive from sceptical expectations.