Economics
German Business Mood Darkens as Virus Lockdowns Delay Recovery
- Ifo business climate index declines to 90.1 in Jan.; est. 91.5
- Gauges of current conditions and expectations deteriorated
Closed bars in the Old Sachsenhausen district in Frankfurt.
Photographer: Alex Kraus/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
German companies’ optimism in an economic recovery is being tested as extended lockdowns at home and abroad curb activity.
A gauge of sentiment over current conditions fell in January, dragging the Ifo Institute’s business climate index down to 90.1. A measure of expectations for the next six months also declined amid uncertainty about the impact of new, more contagious coronavirus strains on the economy.