German industrial conglomerate Thyssenkrupp blamed a “gloomy” economic environment as it lowered its forecast for annual sales and earnings on Wednesday. Thyssenkrupp said it now expects sales for the 2023-24 fiscal year to be below the prior-year level, due largely to declining volumes and lower prices in the steel and materials trading business. The steel and engineering company also now projects a net loss for the year in the low three-digit million euro range. The company had previously assumed a break-even figure. In terms of adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), Thyssenkrup…