German business morale hit its highest level in nearly six years in March, suggesting company executives in Europe's largest economy are brushing off concerns about the threat of rising protectionism and Germany's own election issues.
The surprisingly strong business climate index was published today by the Ifo economic institute.
It added to signs that the German economy is firing on all cylinders at the start of 2017, helped by rising global demand for cars and machinery.
Ifo said its business climate index, based on a monthly survey of some 7,000 firms, rose to 112.3 from an upwardly revised reading of 111.1 in February.
German businesses appeared to be completely unfazed by "America First" protectionist rhetoric in Washington, European politics and even Germany's own election cycle.
"The political uncertainties don't affect the German economy," Ifo economist Klaus Wohlrabe told Reuters, adding that manufacturers in nearly all key segments were markedly more optimistic about their business outlook.
This comes despite US President Donald Trump's threat to hit German carmakers with a border tax of 35%, arguing that such a step would make them create more jobs on American soil.
Ifo's March business climate reading was the highest since July 2011 and it came in stronger than a Reuters consensus forecast for 111, surpassing even the highest estimate.
Capital Economics research group revised up its growth forecast for the German economy to 1.8% from its previous estimate of 1.3%, pointing to the strong Ifo figures.
German managers' assessment of the current business situation improved, also reaching its highest level since July 2011, and firms also expressed greater optimism about the months ahead.
The rise in the headline figure was driven by improved sentiment in manufacturing, construction and retailing, while the business climate in wholesaling deteriorated.
The "very positive development" in manufacturing, Ifo said, was partly driven by a renewed upturn in demand, pointing to healthy global business activity.
In construction, assessments of the current situation reached their highest level since 1991 as a growing population, rising wages, higher job security and record-low borrowing costs are driving a housing boom in Germany.
The Ifo index follows the release of Markit's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) on Friday that showed Germany's private sector grew at the fastest pace in nearly six years in March.
The increase was driven mainly by strong demand for manufactured goods from the US, China, Britain, and the Middle East. The upbeat sentiment indicators were underpinned by a series of strong economic data released earlier this month, suggesting that Europe's biggest economy had a robust start into 2017.
German industrial output rose more than expected in January while a jump in imports surpassed an also surprisingly strong increase in exports that month.
This points to an accelerated growth rate in the first quarter of 2017 after the German economy grew by 0.4% in the final three months of 2016, driven by soaring private consumption, increased state spending and construction.
Germany's gross domestic product expanded by 1.9% during 2016 - the strongest rate in five years.
