Pittsburgh, PA — March 25, 2026— Business leaders, and community members gathered in Pittsburgh for a special event highlighting the latest findings from the German American Business Outlook (GABO) survey. The event provided valuable insights into the economic climate, investment trends, and future outlook of German companies operating in the United States, with a particular focus on regional impact.
Hosted by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the German American Chamber of Commerce and JPMorgan Chase, the event brought together key stakeholders from across the Pittsburgh region to discuss the continued importance of German investment in the local economy. German companies remain a vital part of Pennsylvania’s business landscape, supporting jobs, innovation, and transatlantic collaboration.
Lucas Theo Rehaag presented the full GABO results which can be downloaded below.
Key Takeaways are:
- Sales Development: 82% of German companies in the U.S. expect sales growth in 2026, after 64% saw growth and 23% experienced a decline in 2025.
- Challenges: Political uncertainty (46%) and the financial impact of tariffs (44%) replace shortage of skilled workers as top challenges for German companies in the U.S.
- Tariffs: 86% of the respondents report negative impacts from U.S. tariff policies, while 31% saw positive effects from tariffs.
- Investment: 67% plan to increase their U.S. investments in 2026; 56% intend to invest at least over 1 million USD over the next three years. Workforce development and digital transformation are the top investment priorities.
- AI: 57% of companies have already implemented AI projects — more than twice as many as in the previous year (28%).
Business leaders and representatives from local German business shared their insights following the presentation and confirming its results:
- Marius Aulich - ARDEX America
- Michael Luethkenhaus - Herkules USA
- Lutz Heidrich - Hennecke Inc.
- Alessandro Oltramari - Carnegie Bosch Institute and Bosch Research
Thank you for everyone attending last night and special thanks to generous host JPMorgan Chase!
For more information about the German American Business Outlook survey or future events, please contact:
Lisa Conturo
lconturo@gaccpit.com