Consumption mood
Consumer buying mood remains steamed
Many people in Germany are worried about work and income. Saving is the motto. After the Bundestag election, that could change, my experts.
The consumption mood of consumers in Germany remains cloudy. According to the latest consumer climate study by the Nuremberg Institute GfK and NIM, the economic expectations in February increased, but the income expectations and the inclination were declining. Saving also increased.
For March 2025, experts expect a decline in consumer climate by 2.1 points to minus 24.7 points. This has been collected monthly since 1980. Before the Corona pandemic, this was comparatively stable for values by plus 10 points.
Care for job and falling income expectations
“The consumer climate has been stagnating at a low level since the middle of last year,” said NIM consumption expert Rolf Bürkl. “The uncertainty among consumers is still great and planning security is missing.”
The rapid formation of a new federal government and the adoption of a budget for this year could change, said Bürkl. “This would give important framework conditions so that consumers would be more willing to spend money and enliven consumption.”
According to the study, consumers are currently reserved for larger purchases. Corporate slides, impending work closings, relocation of production abroad and staff reduction in German industry led them to ensure their own workplace. The weak income expectations also reduced the purchase tendency to the lowest value since June 2024.
dpa
Source: Stern
