ZEW Economic Indicator

The ZEW economic expectations are surveyed on a monthly basis. Since 1991, some 350 financial market experts – comprising 80 percent banking professionals, 15 percent insurance experts and 5 percent industry representatives – have participated in the survey.

The indicator reflects the difference between positive and negative forecasts for the future economic development in Germany – for the following six months to come.

For instance: if 30 percent of the survey participants are of the opinion that the economic situation will worsen during the following six months, with 40 percent believing in an improvement, this would result in an economic expectation of 10 points. Those who do not expect a change in the economic situation are not included in this result.