The order situation for companies in Germany remains tight.
According to the Ifo Institute, about one‑third of firms report insufficient orders. The share fell only slightly from 36.9 % in October to 36.3 % in January, but it is still well above the long‑term average. “The mild easing should not give the impression that many companies no longer face shortfalls” said Klaus Wohlrabe, head of the Ifo surveys. “Weak demand continues to strain broad sectors of the economy, and it is further amplified by high costs and falling competitiveness”.
In industry, the proportion of firms experiencing order deficits stayed almost unchanged at 35.9 %. The situation is especially hard in machinery manufacturing, where the share rose from 41.4 % to 43.9 %. Firms producing electronic and optical products also saw increased shortages, with the percentage climbing from 40.7 % to 46.8 %. About a quarter of automotive companies reported similar problems. In contrast, the beverage sector is easing: the share of firms with order shortages fell sharply to 13.6 %.
Within the services sector, companies report fewer order deficits than in other areas. The share dropped from 33.4 % to 31.1 %. Consulting firms and the advertising industry remain heavily affected, with 53.8 % and 51.2 % respectively. Accommodation and IT service providers also show high levels of shortfall, each at 48.1 %.
Retail continues to face difficulties. Among wholesale distributors, still almost two‑thirds (62 %) complain of missing orders. The situation has worsened slightly for retailers, with the share rising from 48.7 % to 51.3 %. Thus, roughly every second retailer reports insufficient demand.