HDE Consumer Barometer: Upswing without trust - consumers are holding onto their money
Despite better economic data, consumption in Germany is not picking up. Retail even starts the third quarter with a record slump. Is improvement in sight?
German consumers remain skeptical about a sustained economic upswing despite recent positive economic indicators. The HDE consumer barometer for September rose 0.52 points to 94.7, but still lags behind the same period in 2024 and 2025. The increase in prices, with a 2.9% rise in living costs in August, is a major concern for consumers.
The European Central Bank is expected to raise interest rates again in September, which could further slow down economic activity. The German economy has grown for three consecutive quarters, but consumer spending remains a weak spot, with a 3.4% drop in retail sales in July.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
