BERLIN, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Sentiment among German business executives has improved "a little," according to the monthly ifo "Business Climate Index" published on Monday.
The index, which is based on responses from around 9,000 German companies, rose from 94.7 points in October to 95.0 points in November, according to ifo.
"The German economy is showing resilience," said Clemens Fuest, president of the Munich-based ifo Institute.
German companies' assessment of the current situation is "slightly better" than last month, the ifo Institute noted, while the companies´ outlook and their expectations are "less pessimistic" than in October.
However, the manufacturing sector in Germany is still "stuck in recession," according to ifo. The business climate index fell again in November after showing signs of stabilization and a small rise in October.
Although expectations "brightened somewhat," Germany's manufacturing sector had a "noticeably poorer assessment" of the current situation, the institute noted. German manufacturing companies still find their current order backlog "very disappointing" and are planning further reductions in production.
The business climate for Germany's service sector, on the other hand, has improved. The ifo Institute noted that service providers are "more satisfied" with their current situation. After four months of lower figures, expectations in the service sector have "departed negative territory."
Traders are "more satisfied" with the current situation and the expectation index also "rose markedly."
"The signs are that business will be very good this Christmas," Fuest commented.
In the fourth quarter of the year, the ifo Institute expects Germany's gross domestic product (GDP) to increase by 0.2 percent.
