Overview

• The Berliner Handwerkskammer confirms the craft sector's order volumes are at their lowest since the 2008/09 financial crisis.
• Almost one-third of businesses have experienced a decline in orders, and over a quarter expect conditions to worsen in the next six months.
• Workforce issues persist, with one in five businesses reporting insufficient staffing and one in four losing employees in the past six months.
• Construction and automotive trades have stabilized, with positive performance indicators following last spring's sharp drop in orders.
• Nearly 90% of surveyed businesses still rate their current situation as at least satisfactory, with one-third describing it as good.