German Business Confidence Worsens, Putting Rebound in Doubt

Ifo index falls to 101.0 from 102.0; median estimate 101.7
Gauges for current conditions, expectations both decline

An employee stands beside Mercedes-Benz GLC sports utility vehicles (SUV) on the assembly line at the luxury automaker's factory in Bremen, Germany, on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. BMW lost its crown as the world's biggest luxury-car brand to Mercedes-Benz, ending its reign after more than a decade amid a cluttered lineup of aging models.Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg

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By Piotr Skolimowski

December 18, 2018 at 4:05 AM EST

Updated on

December 18, 2018 at 4:38 AM EST

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German business sentiment deteriorated further to its lowest level in more than two years as trade tensions and the rising risk of a no-deal Brexit threaten to hamper a meaningful economic rebound from a summer lull.

The Ifo Institute’s gauge of corporate confidence in Europe’s largest economy fell to 101.0 in December from 102.0 in November. The fourth straight decline will add to concerns about economic prospects in Germany and the 19-nation euro area after the European Central Bank decided to rein in stimulus.

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