Survey shows German consumer confidence at nearly 6-year high as labor market strong

BERLIN — A survey has found that low unemployment and solid wage increases have helped push German consumer confidence to a nearly six-year high.

The GfK research institute said Wednesday that its forward-looking consumer climate index rose to 6.8 points for July from 6.5 in June. That's the highest level since a reading of 7.3 in September 2007.

Germany's unemployment rate was 6.8 percent in May, a contrast with rates above 20 percent in the European countries worst-hit by the debt crisis. Industrial workers and others in the country, which has Europe's biggest economy, have secured wage raises well above the inflation rate this year.