German consumer sentiment deteriorated further heading into June to reach the lowest level so far in 2018, a survey showed on Thursday, suggesting that household spending in Europe's biggest economy could slow in the coming months.
Private consumption has become the main source of economic expansion in Germany in recent years, supported by record-high employment, increased job security, above-inflation pay hikes and low borrowing costs.
The Nuremberg-based GfK institute said its consumer sentiment indicator, which is based on a survey of around 2,000 Germans, slipped for the second month in a row to 10.7 points going into June from 10.8 in May. That compared with a Reuters consensus forecast for the index to stay unchanged at 10.8.