German IFO index better than expected in March

(Boursier.com) — The confidence index of German business circles compiled by the Ifo Institute improves more than expected in March. It stood at 87.8, compared to 85.7 for the previous month’s reading, and a consensus of 85.9. The current evaluation component stands at 88.1 points compared to 86.9 a month earlier (86.8 consensus) and the expectations component stands at 87.5 points compared to 84.4 a month earlier (84.7 consensus).

The Ifo index is compiled each month from the responses of 7,000 German professionals from the different economic sectors concerned. It represents their vision at six months and their feeling at the time of the survey. A synthesis of the two indicators provides the main business climate index.