Overview

• The BIHK’s half-year survey of 3,200 companies shows its business climate index up one point to 105, still below the long-term average of 112.
• Investment appetite remains depressed, with the overall indicator barely above zero and industry at minus 11, signaling net cutbacks rather than expansion.
• IHK Schwaben reports a third straight season of stagnation with its index at 105, well under the regional long-run norm of 114.
• Labour-market pressure is building in Bayerisch-Schwaben, where 14% of firms plan to hire but 24% expect to reduce staff, according to the chamber.
• Business leaders warn of a reform backlog and urge that new federal borrowing be steered into productivity-boosting projects, reflecting concern that funds are not fully being deployed for investment.