In spring 2025, the approximately 4,600 companies surveyed by the AHKs around the world are significantly more pessimistic about economic development in their international locations than they were in autumn 2024. Following the coronavirus pandemic and the energy price crisis, US trade policy is causing a deep cut in the global economy. German companies are currently more pessimistic than average at their international locations: only 19 per cent expect economic development at their locations to improve over the next twelve months (autumn 2024: 27 per cent). In contrast, 33 per cent expect the local economy to slow down (autumn 2024: 22 per cent). Less than half of companies expect stable development based on the current economic situation (48 per cent).
The negative assessment of the economic outlook for the coming year illustrates the great uncertainty among companies due to the erratic US trade policy, which is having a negative impact on many locations, and its effects worldwide. The balance is currently at its lowest level since autumn 2022.