German consumer confidence rose to -26.6 points in September, up from a revised -29.4 in August, according to data released Thursday by the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM). The figure exceeded a Reuters poll forecast of -29.6, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase.
The improvement was driven by a rebound in income expectations and a modest pickup in economic outlook, though the overall index remains well below the corresponding level of a year ago. Rolf Buerkl, head of consumer climate at NIM, noted that while the economic outlook at the end of the summer was still more than six points lower than in the prior year, the consecutive gains signaled a slight upward trend.
Households continued to exhibit caution regarding spending, reflecting ongoing economic uncertainty despite the incremental improvement in confidence. The GfK index, compiled monthly by the Nuremberg-based research institute, serves as a key barometer of German consumer sentiment, influencing policy and market expectations.
