Construction workers are silhouetted against the sky at a construction site in Berlin on September 26, 2023. - German business sentiment fell less than expected in September but it was the fifth consecutive decline, a key survey showed on September 25, 2023, as Europe's biggest economy struggles to recover from a recession. The mood was especially grim in the construction sector where the confidence index slumped to its lowest level since 2009, as higher interest rates and soaring costs for materials take their toll on the housing market. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP)