German consumer confidence 'highest since 2001'

Consumer confidence in Germany is at its highest since late 2001, as low inflation buoys households' income expectations, although there were signs of concern about the constant tug-of-war over Greece, a poll showed on Thursday. While the consumer climate improved once more, the increase was not quite so marked," market research company GfK said in a statement. "Income expectations continued to rise, but economic expectations and consumers' willingness to spend fell slightly,