NRW.BANK ifo business climate index for North Rhine-Westphalia rises 7.5 points to -4.4 in August

• NRW.BANK’s August 2026 ifo business climate index for North Rhine-Westphalia rose 7.5 points to -4.4, the highest in over two years.
• Expectations improved 8.7 points to -7.8, signaling firmer confidence despite the index remaining negative.
• Current conditions strengthened 6.3 points to -0.9, pointing to a broader pickup in activity.
• Manufacturing led gains as the sector index jumped 12.8 points to -2.2, an unusually large move without an external shock.
• Construction improved to -12, services to -1.4, trade to -18.6, with sentiment supported by better assessments of ongoing business.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. NRW Bank published the original content used to generate this news brief on September 02, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.