The boom continues and companies are still judging their prospects as favourably as they did in the autumn. The general upswing is gaining a broader base because of the slight increase in private consumption, but above all as a result of heavier investment. The upswing has continued powerfully into 2001.
Managements are therefore still confident about exports.
The basic economic situation is therefore better than the mood in the country, which is less optimistic. Companies have reduced their expectations considerably for 2001. The risks on export markets are increasing and the general business climate in Germany is less buoyant. As a result, economic growth is easing off. Foreign Trade Export forecasts are still high in 2001, although growth rates will not achieve the record levels of last year.