German timber trade sees price increases despite softer outlook

Companies in Germany’s wood industry and timber trade expect selling prices to rise in the coming months, according to the latest business survey by the Munich-based Ifo Institute. The March survey shows that business sentiment in the sector has weakened again after a brief improvement earlier in the year. Both the wood processing industry (excluding furniture) and timber wholesalers reported a more cautious outlook. At the same time, a larger share of companies indicated plans to increase their prices, despite the softer business climate. According to the Ifo data, expectations for the coming months have ...