The economic expectations of financial experts in Germany have clouded over again significantly. The mood barometer of the Mannheim research institute ZEW fell by 8.9 points to 4.1 points in April compared to the previous month, as the Center for European Economic Research (ZEW) announced on Tuesday in Mannheim. Analysts, however, had expected an increase to 15.6 points. The index had already collapsed in March after five increases in a row.

The financial market experts remain uncertain, wrote ZEW President Achim Wambach. The economic expectations signaled an unchanged economic situation for the next six months. According to Wambach, they are negatively influenced by several factors: “On the one hand, the experts expect banks to be more cautious in their lending practices. On the other hand, the still high inflation rates and the internationally restrictive monetary policy are a burden.” It is positive that the danger of an acute crisis on the international financial markets is no longer seen.

The assessment of the economic situation improved noticeably from a low level. It rose by 14.0 points to minus 32.5 points. Only minus 40.0 points were expected her