MittelstandsWiki

According to current labour market projections by the Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB) the number of unemployed people is to fall to about 3.4 million on average in 2008. This would be a drop by 360.000 as compared to 2007. At the same time the IAB expects the German economy to grow by 2.7 percent in 2007 and 2.5 percent in adjusted for price figures. +++

According to the ifo Institute in Munich the global economic climate has significantly brightened up in the third quarter of 2007. This applies to both the current economic situation as well as to the six-months economic outlook. The ifo economic index increased by seven to 113.6 points hitting a seven-year record high. These findings of the “Ifo World Economic Survey” (WES) for the third quarter 2007 indicate a sustainable worldwide economic upswing in the second half of 2007. +++

Big retail store chains (with an annual turnover exceeding 25 million Euros) benefit significantly from the current economic revival and expect increased turnovers this year. As a consequence these chains plan to invest more in equipment and construction activities. At the same time staff is to be taken on. On the other hand, the majority of small and medium-sized entities (SMEs) adopt a pessimistic attitude with regard to their business development and want to reduce their investments. These are the findings of the ifo retail trade investment test study. +++