According to the statistics forwarded by the Nuremberg-based market research firm GfK AG, the German consumer confidence sentiment for February plunged for the fourth month in a row, largely due to unemployment-related worries.

As per the data based on a survey of about 2,000 people, the GfK sentiment index dropped to 3.2 from the revised 3.4 January figures. The figures are in line with the projections of average analysts’ estimates of the sentiment falling to 3.1 from the 3.3 reading that had initially been reported for January.

Noting that two out of three sub-components in the survey went from bad to worse over the past month, GfK researcher Rolf Buerkl, said that the fall in the consumer confidence is largely a result of the intimidation of soaring unemployment numbers, along with the not-so-strong economic recovery.

Even though Germany has emerged from the economic downturn, recent data indicates that the country’s recovery is still not robust enough. In an earlier-this-month statement, Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle had said that the first quarter growth in 2010 might be close to zero.

In an email about the fall in consumer confidence index for February, GfK said: “An expected rise in unemployment in the coming months and fears of redundancies mean that consumers are less optimistic in their income expectations. In terms of consumption, 2010 is likely to be a more difficult year than 2009.”