German consumer morale improves heading into Feb as Covid situation eases

Consumers are once again showing some optimism at the beginning of the year with improved economic and income expectations.

German consumer morale is projected to improve slightly in February as households hope for an improvement in price trends and a possible easing of the pandemic situation in the spring, a survey showed on Thursday.

The GfK institute said its consumer sentiment index, based on a survey of around 2,000 Germans, edged up to -6.7 points heading into February from a revised -6.9 points a month earlier, the first increase after two consecutive months of decline.

Analysts polled by Reuters had on average expected the index to drop to -7.8.

Consumers are once again showing some optimism at the beginning