The ifo Business Survey Trade

In 1950, one year after the launch of the ifo Business Survey in the manufacturing industry, the ifo Institute extended the survey to the retailing sector. Data on current developments in this sector can, amongst other things, provide valuable information on private consumption in Germany. In 1951, the wholesale sector was included. Companies from this sector provide trade goods to the retail sector as well as to manufacturing and construction companies and are therefore closely linked to general economic development. The results of the ifo Business Survey trade are incorporated into the calculation of the ifo Business Climate Index for Germany. Since 1991, i.e., after reunification, survey results of the trade sector have been available for Germany as a whole, as well as for some federal states with a sufficient number of participating trade companies, such as Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Saxony.