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German investor morale falls more than expected in August, ZEW finds

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on August 12, 2025

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· Last updated: January 22, 2026

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German investor morale falls more than expected in August, ZEW finds
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By Maria Martinez BERLIN (Reuters) -German investor morale fell more than expected in August, the ZEW economic research institute said on Tuesday citing widespread disappointment with the US-EU trade

German Investor Sentiment Declines More Than Anticipated in August

By Maria Martinez

BERLIN (Reuters) -German investor morale fell more than expected in August, the ZEW economic research institute said on Tuesday citing widespread disappointment with the US-EU trade deal and sluggish economic performance in Germany in the second quarter.

The economic sentiment index fell to 34.7 points from 52.7 points in July, while analysts polled by Reuters had pointed to a reading of 39.8.

"Financial market experts are disappointed by the

announced EU–US trade deal," said ZEW President Achim Wambach.

The U.S. struck a framework trade agreement with the European Union last month, imposing a 15% import tariff on most EU goods.

The decline is also due to the poor performance of the German economy in the second quarter, Wambach said.

Germany's economy contracted by 0.1% in the second quarter, as demand from the United States slowed following months of strong purchases in anticipation of U.S. tariffs.

The survey's assessment of the current economic situation also deteriorated significantly, with the indicator falling to minus 68.6 from minus 59.5 points the previous month.

(Reporting by Maria Martinez, Writing by Friederike Heine, Editing by Rachel More)

Key Takeaways

  • German investor morale fell more than expected in August.
  • ZEW index dropped from 52.7 in July to 34.7 in August.
  • Disappointment with US-EU trade deal impacted sentiment.
  • Germany's economy contracted by 0.1% in Q2.
  • Current economic situation assessment worsened significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the ZEW economic research institute report about investor morale?
The ZEW economic research institute reported that German investor morale fell more than expected in August, with the economic sentiment index dropping to 34.7 points from 52.7 points in July.
What factors contributed to the decline in investor sentiment?
The decline in investor sentiment was attributed to disappointment with the EU-US trade deal and the poor performance of the German economy in the second quarter.
How did the current economic situation indicator change?
The survey's assessment of the current economic situation deteriorated significantly, with the indicator falling to minus 68.6 from minus 59.5 points the previous month.
What was the economic performance of Germany in the second quarter?
Germany's economy contracted by 0.1% in the second quarter, as demand from the United States slowed following months of strong purchases in anticipation of U.S. tariffs.
What did ZEW President Achim Wambach say about the trade deal?
ZEW President Achim Wambach expressed that financial market experts are disappointed by the announced EU–US trade deal, which has negatively impacted investor sentiment.

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