Sentiment in the East German economy continues to improve noticeably. According to the Ifo Institute in Dresden, the business climate index rose to 91.1 points in September. In the previous month, the sentiment barometer for the regional economy of eastern Germany stood at 89.9 points. The companies surveyed assessed their current business situation as significantly better and, at the same time, expressed slightly more optimism regarding their business expectations. According to the report, the business climate improved considerably, particularly in the manufacturing and service sectors. In contrast, it deteriorated slightly in the retail sector. In the construction sector, it improved only marginally. The Ifo Business Climate Index for Eastern Germany is based on approximately 1,700 reports from companies in industry, the service sector, retail, and the construction industry. It is considered an important leading indicator for the economy. Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved