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DIRECT MARKET REPORT GERMAN RETAIL - Europe Real Estate

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The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment 1 for Germany remained unchanged in<br />

October 2007 and stood like in September at minus 18.1 points. In November<br />

2007 however it dived to minus 32.5 points! The historical average is 31.8 points.<br />

Due to the sub-prime crisis, which is definitely not over yet, financial market<br />

experts have re-adjusted their economic expectations, especially for the United<br />

States.<br />

Source: ZEW<br />

Exhibit 4 ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment<br />

The greatest risk factor for the development of the German economy in the<br />

following six months are the exports, which are expected to decrease owing to the<br />

strong Euro and the decreasing rate of growth of the US-economy. The current<br />

ongoing rise in oil prices (> USD 93/barrel) isn’t helping either.<br />

The cornerstone of the German economy is the labour market (exhibit 5).<br />

However, the current discussion on the Hartz-IV reforms on the German labour<br />

market might impair expectations.<br />

Exhibit 5 Unemployment rate development in time<br />

Source: Federal Labour Ministry<br />

1 The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment shows the balance between positive and negative expectations regarding future<br />

economic activity in Germany within a timeframe of six months. The horizontal line indicates the historical mean of the indicator.<br />

German retail update - 28/11/2007 7

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