News from 2026-04-30 / KfW Research

KfW-ifo SME Barometer April 2026

Energy price shock hits SMEs

For the second time in succession, the business climate among small and medium-sized enterprises has deteriorated markedly. In April it fell by 4.1 points to -22.4 balance points. Compared with its level in February, it has now slumped by 8 points. The war in the Middle East, with its hard-to-calculate consequences for energy prices and supply chains, is causing deep concern in the German SME sector.

KfW-ifo SME Barometer April 2026

Press release

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