BERLIN—German business confidence improved more than expected in December as managers in Europe’s biggest economy took a brighter view of both their current situation and the outlook for the next six months, a closely watched survey showed Monday.
The Ifo institute said its monthly confidence index rose to 88.6 points from 86.4 in November. Economists had expected an increase to 87.5.
“German business is entering the holiday season with a sense of hope,” Ifo said in a statement. The December improvement in overall sentiment was the third in a row, but it marked the first time that businesses have been more positive about their current situation after six months of increasing pessimism….