German consumer confidence index improves sharply - GfK

According to the report from GfK, consumer confidence in Germany increased noticeably in June. Both economic and income expectations increased significantly, along with the propensity to buy showing moderate growth. As a result, GfK is forecasting a value of -0.3 points in consumer sentiment for July 2021, up 6.6 points from June of this year (revised from -6.9 points).

What is remarkable this month is that consumers are very confident when it comes to the general development of the German economy. Following the sharp rise in the previous month, economic expectations increased significantly once again. After an increase of 17.3 points, the indicator currently climbs to 58.4 points. This is the highest value in more than ten years. A higher value was last measured in February 2011, at 59 points. 

Rolf Bürkl, GfK consumer expert comments on the subject: “We are leaving the lockdown behind more and more. Sharply declining incidence rates, as well as significant progress in vaccination, allow increasingly extensive relaxations or openings. In addition, vacation travel is now possible again. This leads to increased optimism, which is also reflected in improved consumer confidence. As a result, we are forecasting a value of -0.3 points in consumer sentiment for July 2021, the highest value since the summer of last year. A higher value was last measured in August 2020, at -0.2 points.”