// REGIONAL ROUND-UP //
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USA
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined by 1.6 points in April to 95.8, the second consecutive month below the 51-year average of 98. The Uncertainty Index decreased four points from March to 92 but remained far above the historical average of 68. Seasonally adjusted, 34 % of business owners reported job openings they could not fill in April, down six points from March. The last time job openings were below this level was in January 2021. The net percent of owners expecting better business conditions fell six points from March to a net 15 %( seasonally adjusted), the lowest since last October.
2
GERMANY
A total of 1,724 companies from abroad announced greenfield and expansion projects last year – that’ s according to 2024 FDI Report compiled by Germany’ s international business promotion agency, Germany Trade & Invest( GTAI). The figure was down 2 % from 2023 but comparable to numbers from the past five years. The volume of international business projects amounted to € 23.2 billion. That’ s the thirdhighest amount ever recorded for Germany and well above pre-COVID levels.
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