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Austrian Economic News and Analysis
Read the latest headlines about Austria's economy, including news on inflation, growth domestic product (GDP), nation's debt and labor market
Austrian Current Account Deficit Rising
Against 2010, the Austrian current account deficit almost doubled. Both imports and exports reached record levels.
February 27, 2012
Austrian Production Expanded in 2011
Production index declines in December 2011 (–3.1%); annual average 2011 positive (+5.6%).
February 25, 2012
Austrian Industry: „Austerity Package Brings Excessive Rise in Labor Costs“
For the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), the austerity package causes an enormous rise in labor costs for entrepreneurs.
February 25, 2012
Economic Growth Forecast: 0.7% in 2012
The EU-Commission sees an economic growth of 0.7% for Austria in 2012. Austria is in the middle-field among the EU member states.
February 23, 2012
Environmental Expenditure Growing
Austrian environmental protection expenditure 2009: €12.7bn; expenditure doubled from 1995 to 2009.
February 23, 2012
Austria Will Not Get „AAA“ Back in Near Future
The economist at the German Deka bank, Ulrich Kater, does not think that Austria will be upgraded within the next years.
February 22, 2012
Fekter: „Austerity Package is Structural Reform Package“
In spite of criticism by economists, for the Austrian Minister of Finance, the austerity package is a “big success”.
February 20, 2012
Leitl Pushes for Reforms
The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce appreciates that actions worsening the Austrian business location conditions were prevented.
February 15, 2012
Youth Employment: Danger from Austerity Package
The government aims for increasing the retirement age in order to cut pension costs. Now, the director of the Austrian labor market agency (AMS) warns of a rise in youth unemployment.
February 15, 2012
Austrian Economy Shrank in Last Quarter of 2011
Due to lower exports, the Austrian economic growth showed a decrease in the last quarter of 2011. For 2012, the economy will stagnate or increase very slowly.
February 15, 2012
Austerity Package Brings Burden of € 900m for Companies
The Austrian austerity package causes costs of € 900m for the Austrian real economy until 2016. Especially non-wage labor costs rise.
February 14, 2012
„Financial Transaction Tax Could Cause Recession“
According to the CEO of Vienna Stock Exchange, Michael Buhl, a financial transaction tax would cost productivity at enterprises.
February 14, 2012
Turnaround for Austrian Economy?
Bank Austria´s business indicator states that the Austrian economy could return to growth. For the first quarter, a small growth rate is expected.
February 14, 2012
Russia: Great Demand for Austrian Food
Due to rising purchase power of Russian households, Austrian food exports to Russia are booming. In 2012, the Russian retail trade sector is expected to grow by 15%.
February 14, 2012
Moody's Put Austria on Warning
The Austrian “AAA” rating has been confirmed by the U.S. rating agency. However, credit-watch is put on “negative”.
February 14, 2012
Doubt and Criticism on Austerity Package
For the director of IHS, the austerity measures do not contain real reforms. The implementation could become difficult. Administration reforms and health system reforms are too low, observers say.
February 13, 2012
Illegal Income from Switzerland Should Support Government´s Plans
The Austrian government hopes that proceeds from illegal income in Switzerland reach € 1.0bn in 2013. However, an agreement with Switzerland has not been concluded so far.
February 13, 2012
Rise in Rents Expected
The abandoned speculation term on Austrian real estate could lead to a sudden increase in rents.
February 11, 2012
Austerity Package Has Lack in Structural Reforms
The industrialists regard the Austrian austerity package even-tempered. WIFO misses structural reforms.
February 11, 2012
Austrian Government Presents € 27bn Austerity Package
The largest austerity package in Austria´s history mainly consists of cuts in expenditures. The government emphasized the socially balanced measures and the necessity due to reasons of competitiveness.
February 11, 2012
Austrian Central Bank Lets Eligibility Criteria Ease
OeNB: ECB governing council endorses expansion of eligibility criteria for nonmarketable assets.
February 10, 2012
Investments: Austrians Prefer Security
For 72% of the Austrians, safety comes first. The most popular investments are conservative.
February 10, 2012
Austrian Government Resolves Austerity Package
Speculation terms on real estate will be abolished, the tax privilege on 13th and 14th salary too. Inheritance taxes or enrollment fees will not be re-introduced.
February 9, 2012
Problems on European Level as Burden for Austria
Over the last months, the European economy lost its impetus, which is a major burden for the Austrian economy.
February 9, 2012
Austerity Package Takes Form
Although negotiations over the austerity package are not finished, first details are already known.
February 7, 2012
Leitl Pushes Investments in Colombia
For Christoph Leitl, the President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Colombia is the entry to South America for European companies.
February 7, 2012
Innovation Index: Austria Falls Behind
Austria again loses in competitiveness: among the EU member countries, Austria occupies the eighth rank.
February 7, 2012
Foreign Trade Still Growing
January to November 2011: imports rose by 16%, exports increased by 13%.
February 7, 2012
Euro-Crisis: Austrian Managers are Optimistic
In spite of the current euro-crisis, most Austrian managers believe that the currency will remain. Moreover, a deepening of the cooperation between EU-member states is expected.
February 6, 2012
Austrian Government Debt Quota Declining Slightly
Euro area government debt down to 87.4% of GDP in the third quarter 2011 compared with second quarter 2011.
February 6, 2012
Austrian Job Vacancies Declining
65 200 job vacancies in the fourth quarter of 2011, -17% compared to the fourth quarter of 2010.
February 6, 2012
Sorger „Focusing on Business Location“
The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries, Veit Sorger, reaffirmed the strengthen Austria´s economic competitiveness.
February 4, 2012
No Further Rise in Insolvencies Expected
The bad debt insurers Euler Hermes and Prisma expect business insolvencies to stagnate in 2012.
February 2, 2012
Lending Conditions of Austrian Banks Worsened
According to the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), stricter lending conditions at Austrian banks were due to the decline in economic growth and detrimental refunding conditions.
February 2, 2012
Turnaround for Austrian Industry?
According to Bank Austria, a rise in demand leads to a marked gain in new orders and triggers growth in backlogs of work. In 2012, the Austrian economy is predicted to start to expand again.
February 1, 2012
Central-Upper Austria Overtakes Vienna in GDP per Capita
The urban Upper Austrian region Linz-Wels has the highest GDP per capita in Austria. Vienna ranks second.
January 31, 2012
Austerity: ÖVP Becomes Impatient
Negotiations between the coalition partners SPÖ and ÖVP are going on. ÖVP´s chairman Spindelegger locates an “incredibly big need of consolidation”.
January 31, 2012
Austrian Economy to Stagnate Until Summer
The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) does not see signs for another recession. In summer, industrialists are optimistic that economic growth accelerates.
January 31, 2012
Austria Still With Lowest Unemployment Rate in EU
Euro area unemployment rate stands at 10.4%. Austria has second-lowest youth unemployment rate.
January 31, 2012
Austrians Reduce Savings
At present, Austrians are planning to save € 5,460 (-4.5%). Around 10% of the population plans to finance their purchases by taking out loans and will borrow an average of € 68,800 (-16%).
January 31, 2012
FPÖ Wants Cuts in Spendings
The biggest Austrian opposition party suggests reducing public expenditures in order to reduce the budget deficit. Chairman Strache calls for a “subsidy brake”.
January 30, 2012
Felderer Attacks Austrian Government
The head of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies fiercely criticizes Austrian politicians. Felderer claims to put effort in the restructuring of public finance.
January 30, 2012
Strong Growth in Industrial Sector
Positive production trends in Austrian industry and construction sector in October 2011. Turnover was up by 9.3%.
January 30, 2012
Temporary Work on the Rise
2.3% of the Austrian workforce are temporary workers. With 75,000 persons, this is a new record.
January 30, 2012
Good Export Chances in SEE Region
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce regards South-Eastern Europe as growth region. Importance for the Austrian export industry is seen to increase.
January 28, 2012
Stepic: „Reaching AAA Again Is Possible“
RBI´s CEO Herbert Stepic thinks that due to the strength of Austria´s real economy, re-gaining the triple A is possible within the next years.
January 28, 2012
Austerity: Leitl and Sorger Call for More Effort
The Presidents of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) and the Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) aim for re-gaining the “AAA” for Austria. The government should cut expenses instead of rising taxes.
January 27, 2012
Austrian Trust in Euro Decreases
Austrians became more skeptical to the common currency. Analysts see a “crisis of confidence”.
January 27, 2012
After Downgrade of Vienna: No Consequences Expected
The Viennese financial senator Renate Brauner does not fear negative impacts on Vienna´s finance. This week, the city was downgraded by S&P.
January 27, 2012
Budget Deficit Lower Than Forecasted
The Austrian budget deficit in 2011 reached 3.3%. Initially, the figure was expected to amount to 3.9%.
January 27, 2012
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