More good news from Germany suggests Europe improving slowly.
The Munich-based Ifo institute raised its growth forecast as export demand spills over into the domestic economy. Ifo said Dec. 12 it expects growth of 1.7 percent next year, the fastest since 2000 and higher than its previous projection of 1.2 percent. The HWWI and IWH institutes, which, like Ifo, advise the government, have also increased their estimates.