The HDE Consumer Barometer rose for the third consecutive time in April. However, the positive development is clearly weakening, and a sustainable and significant improvement in consumer confidence is still not in sight.
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Also in April, consumer sentiment among consumers in Germany did not rebound. Income expectations are rising. At the same time, consumers expect lower price increases. Purchase willingness remains almost at the same level as in the previous month. However, there is a slight increase in savings propensity. The latest economic forecasts for Germany confirm that there will be no dynamic growth this year. The same can be observed in consumer sentiment. Although the positive trend continues, the improvement in April is less significant than in March. Consumer sentiment in Germany has been improving since the beginning of the year. However, apart from March, only in very small steps.
Optimism is returning only slowly, so there will be no major leaps in private consumption in the coming months. There will likely be a moderate increase. If the positive trend in the HDE Consumer Barometer continues, there should be no significant decline in consumption.
The HDE Consumer Barometer, published every first Monday of the month, is based on a monthly survey of 1,600 people about their propensity to buy, their propensity to save, their financial situation, and other factors relevant to consumption. The consumer barometer, commissioned by the HDE and produced by the Handelsblatt Research Institute (HRI), serves as an indicator for private consumption. It does not reflect current consumer behavior but rather the expected sentiment over the next three months.
Source: HDE