--Ifo W German Apr business climate index at 92.5 vs Mar 93.9
--Ifo E German Apr bus climate index at 102.8 vs Mar 104.6
--Ifo W German April bus expectations index 96.6 vs Mar 97.1
--Ifo W German Apr business evaluation index 88.5 vs Mar 90.6

Frankfurt, May 22 (BridgeNews) - Business sentiment in the west German manufacturing, trade and construction industries dropped more sharply than expected to a seasonally adjusted index reading of 92.5 in April from the 93.9 in March, the Ifo economic institute. Economists had expected around 93.0.
* * *
The widely-watched Ifo index is likely to add to deepening pessimism over German output. The Bundesbank said on Tuesday that the indications for first quarter 2001 German gross domestic product showed a probable annual rise of around 2.0%, down from about 2.5% in the fourth quarter of 2000.
The industrial sentiment data from the euro zone's largest economy will also put increased pressure on the European Central Bank to continue its easing begun with the surprise quarter-point cut in rates on May 10.
The following tables show developments of Ifo's primary indices over the past months:
Business climate in the manufacturing, construction and trade industries (1991=100):
Apr 01 Mar 01 Feb 01 Jan 01 Dec 00 Nov 00
W Germany: 92.5 93.9 94.9 97.4 96.8 96.9
E Germany: 102.8 104.6 106.4 106.6 105.1 106.4

Business expectations index:
Apr 01 Mar 01 Feb 01 Jan 01 Dec 00 Nov 00
W Germany: 96.6 97.1 98.5 100.3 101.4 101.6
E Germany: 84.1 85.5 86.7 87.6 86.1 88.5

Business evaluation index:
Apr 01 Mar 01 Feb 01 Jan 01 Dec 00 Nov 00
W Germany: 88.5 90.6 91.3 94.6 92.2 92.4
E Germany: 122.8 124.9 127.5 126.8 125.4 125.4