# ZEW economic sentiment for October due 20 October: September's headline reading was 34.7

> ZEW publishes its October indicator of German economic sentiment on 20 October at 11:05 a.m. Frankfurt time. In September the headline rose to 34.7, and current conditions were −47.1.

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- Type: Preview
- Published: 2026-10-19
- Updated: 2026-10-19
- Publisher: Forex Trading Community (https://forextradingcommunity.com), FTC Editorial Team
- Currencies: EUR

ZEW, the Mannheim research institute, publishes its October indicator of economic sentiment for Germany on 20 October 2026 at 11:05 a.m. Frankfurt time, according to its release calendar. The index is based on a survey of financial analysts and investors, and it reflects their expectations for the next six months.

## The last reading

In September the headline index rose to 34.7 from 34.2 in August, a smaller gain than expected. The current conditions index improved to −47.1 from −61.1 in August. Our report on the September reading covers the detail ([ZEW report](/news/zew-economic-sentiment-september-2026/)).

## What to watch

The headline and the current conditions measure tell different stories: the headline reflects expectations, the current measure reflects the present. A divergence between them is common when the economy is turning. Analysts and traders watch both, and the expectations measure is usually more volatile.

## Why it matters for the euro

ZEW is one of the earliest indicators of German economic direction, and German figures carry weight in the euro area aggregate. This month's German industrial and inflation data are covered in [German industrial production](/news/german-industrial-production-august-2026/) and [German inflation confirmed at 3.3%](/news/germany-inflation-confirmed-september-2026/). Live prices: [EUR/USD](/markets/eur-usd/).

## Sources

- [ZEW: 2026 release dates for the ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment](https://www.zew.de/en/press/latest-press-releases/2026-release-dates-for-zew-indicator-of-economic-sentiment-fixed)

## Common questions

### When is the ZEW October 2026 sentiment release?

ZEW publishes the October indicator on 20 October 2026 at 11:05 a.m. Frankfurt time.

### What was the ZEW headline reading in September 2026?

The headline index rose to 34.7 from 34.2 in August, and the current conditions index improved to −47.1 from −61.1.

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