The current level of lack of orders is the highest since the financial crisis of 2009. “The lack of orders continues to hamper economic development in Germany,” says Klaus Wohlrabe, head of the Ifo surveys. “Hardly any industry is spared.”
In industry, almost every second company (47.7%) reported a lack of orders. The core sectors such as mechanical engineering, metal and electrical industries are particularly worried. “The order backlog that rose again in September can be a signal of hope. But there is still a long way to go before the books are full again,” says Wohlrabe.
The proportion of service providers increased slightly from 31.2 to 32.1%. The transport sector in particular is affected by the poor industrial economy. Due to the weak demand for work, around two thirds of recruitment agencies report a lack of orders. “Temporary workers are less in demand in the current situation,” says Wohlrabe. Just over a third of catering establishments have too few guests. In the events industry, the proportion of companies complaining about too few orders is 48.5%, compared to 38.5% in July. “The major events have certainly taken away some purchasing power for smaller concerts and events,” says Wohlrabe. Legal and tax advisors as well as auditors are currently less worried about their order situation. High levels of bureaucracy and regulation mean there is a high demand for advice.