Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Germans have become more pessimistic about the economy this month, a poll by opinion researcher Forsa for Stern magazine showed.

The share of Germans who expect the economic situation to worsen was 45 percent, an increase of 7 percentage points from earlier this month, the Hamburg-based magazine said today in an e-mailed statement. The share of people who expect the economy to improve dropped to 22 percent from 30 percent, Stern said.

Stock market losses, the planned shutdown of a Nokia Oyj factory in Bochum, western Germany, and job losses at WestLB AG prompted the 2,502 people polled between Jan. 21 and Jan. 25 to have more pessimistic views, Stern said.

The poll had a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rainer Buergin in Berlin at rbuergin1@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: January 30, 2008 03:28 EST