German business confidence slipped in September amid concerns that Europe's ongoing debt crisis could tip the region's economy back into recession, a key survey released Wednesday showed. The Munich-based Ifo institute's closely watched business climate index fell for the third consecutive month to 107.5 this month from 108.7 points in August, dpa reported. But the drop was less than analysts' had forecast. They had expected a bigger drop to 106.5. It is also less than the almost four-point drop the Ifo posted in August. "The continuing favourable situation of companies shows that the German economy has so far managed to decouple from political turbulence," said Ifo President Hans-Werner Sinn. Based on a survey of 7,000 executives, the Ifo is one of Europe's leading economic indicators. Sinn went on to warn, however, that the nation's key manufacturing companies were growing increasingly sceptical about their business prospects for the coming half year. "They expect no further impulse from their export business," he said.
