The mood among independent service providers and small businesses is in the basement: there is a lack of orders. One in five people fears for their economic existence.
According to the Ifo Institute, the business climate for the self-employed and small businesses continues to deteriorate. Almost 49 percent of those surveyed reported too few orders in October – 18 percent now fear that they will have to give up their business. “The self-employed are under increasing economic pressure,” says Ifo expert Katrin Demmelhuber. “Due to the economic uncertainty, large companies are reluctant to place orders.”
The Jimdo-Ifo business climate index for the self-employed and micro-enterprises fell to minus 22.0 points in October, after minus 21.4 in September, minus 18.4 in August and minus 13.4 in July. For the index, 1,600 solo self-employed people and small companies with up to nine employees are surveyed every month.
Source: Stern
