The housing construction sector in Germany continues to grapple with a dearth of orders, with over half of the firms (55.2%) reporting a shortage in April, a slight improvement from March's 56.2%. "Builders are desperately seeking signs of hope," remarks Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of ifo Surveys. "However, an end to the crisis is not yet on the horizon."

Furthermore, the persistent issue of cancellations looms large. In April, 17.6% of businesses reported canceled projects, down from 19.6% in March. Although there's been a notable uptick in the business climate within the housing construction sector, it remains firmly entrenched in negative territory.