ifo Business Climate Index

The ifo Business Climate Index is one of the most important early indicators for the economic development in Germany. On a monthly basis, the Munich-based institute surveys some 7,000 companies on their evaluation of the economic situation and their expectations for the following six-month period.

The answers are weighted according to a complex formula and related to a basis of 100. That means: with an average neutral assessment of the business sentiment the index achieves 100 points; a worse assessment would result in a lower, and a better assessment would result in a higher figure.

The index is published on the last Tuesday of each month.