Measures
Level of a composite index based on surveyed manufacturers, builders, wholesalers, services, and retailers;
Usual Effect
Actual' greater than 'Forecast' is good for currency;
Frequency
Released monthly, around 3 weeks into the current month;
Frequencee's Notes
This survey is highly respected due to its large sample size and historic correlation with German and wider Eurozone economic conditions. It tends to create a hefty market impact upon release. Source changed series from a base year of 2000 to a base year of 2005, as of May 2011, and changed series to include services, as of Apr 2018;
Why Traders care
It's a leading indicator of economic health - businesses react quickly to market conditions, and changes in their sentiment can be an early signal of future economic activity such as spending, hiring, and investment;
Also Called
Information and Forschung (ifo);