The German economy is expected to improve in the next six months despite a slight deterioration in investor morale in February, according to a survey today that showed an upbeat outlook overall.
Europe's largest economy is powering ahead on a consumer-led upswing driven by record-high employment, increased job security, rising real wages and low borrowing costs.
A rebound in exports and company investments are also boosting growth.
The Mannheim-based ZEW research institute said its monthly index of economic sentiment fell to 17.8 from 20.4 in January - a smaller decline than the 16 forecast in a Reuters poll.
A separate gauge measuring investors' assessment of the economy's current conditions edged down to 92.3 from 95.2 last month, which was the highest level since the survey began in 1991.
The Reuters consensus forecast was for a reading of 93.9.
"The latest survey results continue to show a positive outlook for the German economy," ZEW researcher Achim Wambach said, adding that respondents' assessment of current conditions was still at a very high level.
He noted, however, that inflation expectations for Germany and the euro zone as a whole had started to increase.
Analysts said the slightly weaker ZEW figures reflected a decline in equity prices rather than broader concerns about the economy.
They also pointed to political progress in efforts by Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives to forge a coalition government nearly five months after a federal election.
Members of Germany's Social Democrats today started voting on whether their party should enter a new coalition with Merkel's conservatives in a postal ballot which could scupper the chancellor's fourth term.
