Relaxation after the Corona crisis: companies are less concerned about their existence

According to an IFO study, companies are proving to be very robust despite the economic slowdown.

Relaxation after the Corona crisis: companies are less concerned about their existence

According to an IFO study, companies are proving to be very robust despite the economic slowdown. Many have significantly fewer worries than at the peak of the Corona crisis in June 2020. At that time, three times as many companies felt threatened.

The current economic crisis scares German companies far less than the Corona crisis. Around 7.5 percent of companies currently say that their existence is threatened, according to a survey published by the Munich IFO Institute. That is much less than during the hot phase of the Corona crisis. In June 2020, at 21.8 percent, almost three times as many companies felt threatened.

"In view of the strong economic slowdown, companies are proving to be very robust," said IFO expert Klaus Wohlrabe. The current value is also comparatively small over time. Although it is slightly higher than in the last survey in April - at that time 7.1 percent of the companies felt threatened. But in January the value was still much higher at 13.7 percent - also in December and June 2021 with 14 each, in February 2021 with 18.7 and in November 2020 with 17.6 percent.

The retail sector is currently particularly badly affected, with 11.6 percent of companies with existential fears. "The current inflationary dynamics are causing retailers great concern," said Wohlrabe. Here, too, the values ​​are far lower than in January and in the queries before that. Manufacturing at 7.0, services at 7.7 and construction at 7.2 percent are close to average.

"The increased energy prices have led to a slightly increased fear of existence, especially in energy-intensive sectors," said Wohlrabe with a view to the manufacturing industry. "The order books in the industry are still well filled."