Germany consumer sentiment rises slightly in September

The HDE consumer barometer in Germany showed a slight increase in September, rising by 0.52 points to 94.70. This follows a decline in August and marks a continued upward trend since May, although the current value remains 1.27 points lower than the same month last year.

Key indicators show a rise in purchasing intention, which reached 86.47 points, nearly returning to previous year levels. Additionally, the propensity to save decreased, suggesting consumers may be planning to spend more rather than increasing savings. Economic expectations also improved by 2.44 points to 78.32, though they remain below last year's figures.

Despite these minor improvements, the overall consumer sentiment remains weak. The German retail sector does not yet see a significant revival in private consumption due to ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and cautious expectations regarding income and inflation. While the economy grew by 0.4 percent in the first quarter and 0.3 percent in the second quarter, experts suggest growth may weaken in the second half of the year.