German firms are the most optimistic they have been since reunification in 1990, a key indicator showed today, raising hopes Europe's powerhouse could drag the debt-wracked eurozone from the abyss.
The Ifo institute's measure of business confidence soared to 109.3 points in November, smashing expectations of analysts, who expected little change from last month's reading of 107.7 points.
Analysts were euphoric, with one harking back to the 'economic miracle' enjoyed by Germany after World War II. They said that looking at the latest Ifo index suggests that German companies are currently shrugging off all these concerns. Instead, they concentrate on the positive aspects of the current upswing, becoming more and more optimistic.
A separate index measuring how firms assess their current situation also rose strongly, to 112.3 points from 110.2 in October, its highest level since May 2007.
'The upswing in the German economy is gaining more and more strength,' said Hans-Werner Sinn, the president of the Ifo institute.
Europe's economic powerhouse suffered more than most during the downturn as its export motor spluttered amid lower global demand for goods 'made in Germany'. In 2009, the economy contracted by a bitter 4.7%, the worst recession in more than 60 years.
But Chancellor Angela Merkel pumped tens of billions of euros into the economy, introduced short-term working schemes to keep a lid on unemployment and has overseen an impressive bounce back as exports recovered.
Statistics released on November 12 showed that economic growth in Germany slowed slightly in the third quarter to 0.7% but this was still far ahead of fellow euro zone giants France and Italy.
Berlin expects growth of 3.4% this year, with domestic demand now also joining the party, contributing to more balanced and sustainable output, economists say.
'Unemployment is now under three million and will be on average 2.9 million next year,' a triumphant Merkel said in a speech to parliament earlier today.
However, tempering the euphoria has been some worrying signs from industry, with both production and orders disappointing recently, leading some to believe Germany is heading for a sharper-than-expected slowdown in 2011.
The German government itself has forecast growth of 1.8% for next year.
