German consumer confidence eases in face of slumping economy
Berlin - German consumer confidence has slipped as the global economic uncertainty deepens, a survey released Thursday showed.
The Nuremberg-based GfK marketing institute said its forward- looking consumer confidence index came in at 2.4 points in April compared to 2.5 points in March, which was revised down from a preliminary reading of 2.6 points.
"Despite a flood of negative information about economic development, the overall mood among German consumers has remained virtually unchanged," the Gfk said.
Analysts had expected the indicator, which is based on a survey of about 2,000 households, to dip back to 2.5 points in April amid a steady stream of bleak economic news from around the world, including mounting job layoffs.
Indeed, releasing its survey the Gfk said German households grew more gloomy about the state of the economy with economic expectations falling to minus 32.8 points in March from minus 27.9 points in February.
After rising in February, income expectations slipped to minus 11.4 points in March from minus 11.0 points.
At the same time, the GfK survey index measuring propensity to buy dropped to 13.9 points in March from 14.6 points in February. (dpa)