Germany’s leading economic index strengthens in May 2026: TCB

Germany’s Leading Economic Index (LEI) rose in May, giving businesses monitoring German business-cycle direction a stronger near-term reading, according to the Conference Board (TCB).The LEI increased by 0.6 per cent in May 2026 to 87.5, with 2016 as the base year, after a 0.1 per cent rise in April’s upwardly revised reading, TCB said in a press release.

Germany’s LEI rose 0.6 per cent in May 2026 to 87.5, following an upwardly revised 0.1 per cent gain in April, signalling a firmer near-term business-cycle reading.
The six-month LEI trend stayed negative, down 1.1 per cent from November 2025 to May 2026.
The CEI edged up 0.1 per cent to 103.3, but its six-month performance remained marginally negative.

Despite the monthly improvement, the six-month trend remained negative.

The Conference Board said the LEI declined by 1.1 per cent between November 2025 and May 2026, compared with marginal growth of 0.1 per cent in the previous six-month period from May to November 2025.

Germany’s Coincident Economic Index (CEI), which indicates current economic conditions, edged up by 0.1 per cent in May 2026 to 103.3, with 2016 as the base year, TCB noted.

It said the CEI had been unchanged in March and April, and declined by 0.1 per cent between November 2025 and May 2026, the same contraction recorded in the previous six-month period.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk