German consumer confidence is set to surge to an eight-year high next month thanks to optimism about the outlook for Europe's biggest economy. According to dpa, confidence among consumers will rise to a stronger-than-forecast 9 points in January from 8.7 points in December, the Nuremberg-based GfK research group said, releasing its forward-looking indicator. Analysts surveyed by dpa-AFX had expected the GfK indicator would edge up to 8.8 next month. The mood among consumers in Germany is "very robust," the GfK said, adding to retailers' hopes about the Christmas shopping period. "Evidently consumers assume that the phase of economic weakness in Germany will be temporary and are expecting their domestic economy to return to growth over the coming months," the institute said.