German consumer optimism improved unexpectedly in May, survey data from market research group GfK showed Wednesday.
The forward-looking consumer sentiment index rose to 9.7 from 9.4 in April. It was forecast to remain unchanged in May.
Among components of the index, economic expectation increased in April. At the same time, income expectation and propensity to buy both made noticeable gains.
The economic expectation index rose 5.8 points to 6.3 in April. The indicator stabilized at a positive level, above its long-term average of zero.
After gaining 7 points, the income expectations indicator reached 57.5 points in April. The last time a higher figure was recorded was nine months ago, in July 2015.
Propensity to buy can clearly benefit from the decision of the European Central Bank in March to re-open the monetary floodgates, GfK said. The indicator rose by 5.4 points to 55.4 in April.
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