Group 1 - The German industrial sector's self-assessment of competitiveness has reached a historical low, with 36.6% of surveyed companies reporting a decline compared to non-EU competitors, marking the worst result in 31 years of IFO surveys [1] - This 36.6% figure represents a significant increase from 24.7% in the previous survey conducted in July, indicating a growing concern among German businesses [1] - Within the EU context, the perception of competitiveness has also worsened, with the percentage of companies feeling less competitive compared to other EU member states rising from 12.0% to 21.5% [1] Group 2 - The official data released last Thursday indicates a 0.8% decline in Germany's industrial output for the third quarter, highlighting the impact of structural issues on the economy [2] - The head of IFO, Klaus Wohlrabe, emphasized that without deep reforms, Germany risks falling further behind in international competition [2] - The German Federal Bank has identified fundamental structural problems within the economy, including demographic changes, skilled labor shortages, rising unit labor costs, and increasing bureaucratic procedures, which are exerting pressure on many businesses [2]