MittelstandsWiki

German companies will significantly increase their investment in electronic business in 2007. More than one third of companies will investment more than in 2006 and almost 60% want to investment as much as last year. These findings were revealed by the “eBusiness-Barometer 2007/2008” survey which was presented yesterday in Berlin. This year companies invest particularly in customer management software, IT security solutions and internet portals. +++

According to provisional figures by the Federal Statistical Office consumer prices will probably increase by 1.9% in August 2007 as compared to August last year which is the same increase already withnesses in July. As compared to July 2007 prices slightly fell by 0.1% in August. +++

Financial market experts compiling the CEE economic indicator (Central and Eastern Europe) do not expect any changes with regard to the economic development in these regions over the next six months. The experts expect the economy to develop positively there. For Austria, however, future prospects are rather negative, even though the current economic situation there is seen in a positive light. +++

According to the Federal Statistical Office, the German retail trade (motor vehicles excluded) generated almost half of its turnover (45%) in just ten out of 59 product classes. Most turnover was generated in the field of pharmaceutical products (8.3% of total turnover), followed by ladies´ wear (5.9%) and foodstuffs (5.7%). +++

Given that just eight percent of all small companies have an in-house IT department, the majority of companies depend on external support even in the case of minor software problems or hardware deficiencies. The TechConsult market research company recently wanted to find out who is charged by small and medium-sized entities (SMEs) with solving such problems. The finding: 54% of SMEs count on permanent IT service partners when such a situation arises. +++