German business sentiment is set to end the year on a softer note, highlighting how difficult it remains for Europe’s largest economy to break free from a prolonged period of weakness.
Fresh survey data suggest that companies are growing more cautious about what lies ahead, even as views on current conditions show little change.
The latest figures contribute to a mixed picture of Germany’s economy, which has struggled with sluggish growth, external pressures, and deep-seated structural issues.
With output barely avoiding recession this year, the focus is increasingly shifting to whether reforms and public spending plans can restore confidence among firms.
An expectations index published by the Ifo institute fell in December, pointing to a more downbeat mood among businesses looking ahead to the coming months.
The survey, released on Wednesday, showed the index slipping to 89.7 from a revised 90.5 in November.
Source: Ifo Institute
By contrast, a separate measure tracking companies’ assessment of current conditions remained unchanged, suggesting that the immediate situation has stabilised even as future prospects dim.
Expectations weaken
The drop in expectations signals that firms are increasingly cautious about the first half of 2026.
While day-to-day business conditions have not deteriorated further, the lack of improvement in forward-looking sentiment indicates persistent uncertainty.
The Ifo data underline how confidence has yet to recover after years marked by supply shocks, inflation pressures, and weak demand at home and abroad.
This pessimism comes at the end of a year that offered little reassurance for companies hoping for a decisive turnaround.
Despite some stabilisation in recent months, the overall mood remains fragile, reflecting concerns about growth momentum and policy direction.
Mixed survey signals
Other recent surveys have sent conflicting messages about the state of the German economy.
On Tuesday, business surveys by S&P Global pointed to private-sector activity expanding in December, but at a slower pace than economists had expected.
In contrast, data from the ZEW institute showed a sharp improvement in economic expectations, reaching their highest level since July.
Taken together, these indicators suggest that while some segments of the economy are showing resilience, confidence is uneven and far from secure.
The divergence between surveys also highlights uncertainty about whether tentative improvements can be sustained into the new year.
Growth remains fragile
Germany’s economy is still struggling to emerge from a downturn that saw gross domestic product contract in both 2023 and 2024.
The country narrowly avoided falling back into recession this year, with output stagnating in the third quarter after shrinking by 0.2% in the previous three months.
Weak exports and subdued household spending were key factors behind the poor performance between July and September.
At the same time, Germany remains exposed to higher US trade levies and softer global demand, adding to the pressure on its export-driven model.
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