Measures the total value of German investments in equipment including machinery and construction equipment. Equipment Investment is a part of GDP and released at the same time, therefore changes in the figure directly change overall GDP. But Equipment Investment is also an early indicator for production since companies generally make capital expenditures in a healthy economy when the need to expand operational productivity exists. Because such capital expenditures are sensitive to business conditions, the report can also forecast economic growth or recession. The headline number is the percentage change in Equipment Investment in the reporting quarter.

Relevance: Rarely affects markets
Release schedule: 6:00 (GMT); quarterly, one or two weeks after the release of German GDP
Source of report: Federal Statistical Office of Germany
Web Address: http://www.destatis.de/indicators/e/iwf01.htm
Address of release: http://www.destatis.de/indicators/e/vgr610ae.htm
AKA: Fixed Investment, Machinery and Equipment Capital Formation, Private Investment