German investor-expectations getting worse

he ZEW German investor-expectations index declined more sharply than forecast in April to 7.6 from 14.1 in March, the Mannheim-based Center for European Economic Research, or ZEW, reported Tuesday.

Economists had expected the index to decline to 10.0. “Despite the positive economic development, considerable risks may result from increasing commodity prices,” said ZEW President Wolfgang Franz. “These price increases could lead to second-round effects that could then force the European Central Bank to adopt a more restrictive monetary policy.” ZEW's current-conditions index rose to 87.1 from 85.4 in March. The index was based on a survey of 291 analysts and institutional investors, ZEW said.