The new BVL/DIW Logistics Indicator is an sector indicator which expresses the market situation an the expectations of logistics service providers and customersl of ogistical services in industry and trade. Thus, the indicator enables the whole logistics sector to reflect own decisions and expectations. The German Logistics Association (BVL) collaborates with the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) for the calculation of the indicator.

Short-time economic developments in logistics have not been considered so far; organisations have been lacking a seismograph. This gap is now closed by the BVL/DIW Logistics Indicator. Each quarter a panel of 200 decision maker is polled: 100 managers of the logistics service providers and 100 top executives of industrial customers of logistical services. The questionnaire has been developed with the DIW Berlin and investigates the current market situation as well as the expectations for the next 12 month. The industry and trade panel covers a broad range of companies, e.g. Audi, Bosch, Siemens, Kraft Foods and Metro. The logistics service providers panel accounts for over 40 billion Euro, i.e. about one quarter of the German logistics market. 34 of the top 50 logistics service providers are included in the panel. In addition, questions concerning special topics of current interest such as infrastructure or security can be polled as well.