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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
Equity Requirements of Austrian Banks are € 18 billion

Due to the new Basel III regulations, Austrian banks will need a much stronger capital base by 2019. The estimation is € 15 billion to € 18 billion.
December 2, 2010


Austria's Position in the CEE Region Shakes

According to the Roland Berger consultancy agency, Austria receives not only competition in the CEE countries, but the importance of the region also decreases from a global viewpoint.
December 1, 2010
Unemployment Continued to Decline in November

Both the number of unemployed and trainees show a decline.
December 1, 2010


Carinthia Back on Growth Path

A business survey in Carinthia showed an increasingly positive image. Optimism is rising.
November 30, 2010
The Budget is Finally Set

After weeks of discussions about the 2011Austrian Federal Budget, the final details were announced today. There are very few amendments to the original project.
November 30, 2010
Industrialists: Destruction of Business Location Averted

The Industriellenvereinigung (IV, Industrialists Association) is relieved about issues concerning location policy, and at the same time calls for structural reforms.
November 30, 2010


Salary Increase in Trade up to 2.3%

Low incomes are taken more into account than higher salaries; the minimum wage in trade now amounts to € 1,300.
November 30, 2010


Globalization Study: Vienna Among Top 20 Cities

New York remains at the top of the ranking of the "Global City Index 2010" by A.T. Kearney. Vienna stays unchanged at 18th place.
November 30, 2010


EU Growth Forecast: Austria Slightly Over Average

The EU Commission has revised its growth forecast for 2011 slightly upwards. Austria stays at 1.7% in the above average area.
November 30, 2010


Strong Sales Growth in Goods Production and Construction

According to Statistik Austria, sales growth in goods production was 14.3%. Orders for the construction industry decline however.
November 30, 2010


Carinthia Strengthens Relations with China

The Carinthian Economic Chamber President, Franz Pacher, has signed a bilateral trade agreement with the Beijing Economic Chamber.
November 29, 2010


Leitl: Finland and Austria Have Much to Learn From Each Other

Finnish ex-Prime Minister Lipponen exposes economic success secrets of his country.
November 29, 2010
WIFO: Budget Consolidation in the EU is Not Sustainable

WIFO criticizes the consolidation programs of the individual EU countries for being easily enforceable, but containing hardly any sustainable measures.
November 29, 2010


Is the Austrian Industry still competitive?

The chief economist of the Industriellenvereinigung (IV), Christian Helmenstein, draws a sobering picture on the future of the domestic industry.
November 26, 2010


WKÖ’s Secretary General Advocates for Educational and Administrative Reform

Young people have to be trained practically to meet the challenges of the future. An administrative reform should not be foregone, said Hochhauser.
November 25, 2010


Risk Exposure of Austrian Banks: € 32 billion

The volume that Austria's banks hold at the moment in the altogether not risk-free PIIGS countries (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece), is € 32 billion.
November 25, 2010
Leitl Vehemently Asks the Government for Structural Reforms

The President of the Austrian Economic Chamber (WK), Christoph Leitl, call on the government for location and future investments.
November 25, 2010


Europe's Public Debt and Unemployment Remain High

Austrian Institute of Economic Research: The revival of the EU states, driven by expansionary economic policies and export growth, is ebbing.
November 25, 2010
AMS: Temporary Employment Will Continue to Rise

The Chairman of the Board of the AMS (Public Employment Service), Johannes Kopf, believes that the international trend of increasing temporary employment will also take root in Austria.
November 24, 2010


Industrial Production: Increase Over Last Year, but Trend is Declining

The September 2010 production index shows a significant increase of 3.6% in Austrian industrial production over the previous year.
November 24, 2010


Lending Rates of Domestic Banks Significantly Lower Than in the Euro Area

The lending interest rates for private households and businesses have risen recently. But despite this, rates are more advantageous than in other euro-countries.
November 23, 2010
WKÖ Promotes Trade With Developing Countries

The Economic Chamber Austria presents its strategies to strengthen Austrian companies in order to take advantage of business opportunities in developing and emerging countries more effectively.
November 23, 2010


Job Dissatisfaction Rises Dramatically

Austrians show themselves increasingly dissatisfied with their work. The current working climate index is at its lowest level in four years.
November 22, 2010


Solid Growth inTrade Between Austria and the Czech Republic

Exports between the two countries rise by around 20%. Cooperation is to be extended also to research.
November 22, 2010


CEE: Catch-Up Process Starts Again

After the growth break caused by the economic crisis, Eastern Europe is back on the upswing. However, the catch-up process has been delayed by years.
November 22, 2010


Economic Espionage: Damages for 880 Million Euro in Austria

Every year, Austrian companies lose 880 million euro to economic and industrial espionage.
November 18, 2010


OECD: Austria's growth until 2012 at 2%

According to the report, the economy is returning back to normal values, but it will have to manage without fiscal stimulus.
November 18, 2010


Study: Agricultural Subsidies Produce No Growth

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research has determined that growth in the Austrian regions is accelerated by EU regional promotional financing, but not by agricultural subsidies.
November 18, 2010
Junge Industrie Wien: Explosive Generational Balance Study

Junge Industrie Wien calls for "courageous steps". The credo is future investments instead of transfer payments.
November 17, 2010


Private Consumption of Austrians Increases

After the crisis of 2009, in which private consumption stagnated, expenditure on consumption rises massively again. The growth rate is 4.2%,
November 17, 2010


GPA: Private Employees Receive 2.2% Salary Increase.

Bigger salaries in trade, crafts and consulting: the negotiators consider this to be a "reasonable result".
November 17, 2010


Procurement: Economy Welcomes Extension

Economic Chamber President Christoph Leitl welcomes the planned extension of the threshold values regulation by one year as an important growth impulse
November 16, 2010


Study: 41% of Working Time in Austria is Unproductive

According to a study by the consulting firm Czipin Consulting, productivity continued to fall in 2008 and 2009.
November 16, 2010


Consumer Price Inflation up to 2.0% in October 2010

Main drivers for inflation are energy prices. Thus, inflation further accelerates.
November 16, 2010


WKÖ: China Overtakes the U.S. as the Most Important Overseas Austrian Trade Partner

The volume of foreign trade (exports and imports) with China in the second third of the year was 5.6 billion euro compared to 5.1 billion euro with the U.S.
November 16, 2010
Austria´s Economy: Recovery Accelerates

According to the Report of Bank Austria “Austria´s Economy”, GDP increases stronger than expected. The labor market experiences some weaknesses.
November 15, 2010


Mechanical Engineering Returns to High of Growth

The sector experienced a decline of output capacity by 22% in 2009, revenue in the sector dropped 24% to € 14.7bn. In 2010, production will grow by 8%.
November 15, 2010
High Demand for Minimum Benefit

In the first month after the introduction of the minimum benefit already 14,500 applications have been submitted. A significantly lower demand had been expected.
November 15, 2010
OeNB Governor Nowotny "During the Crisis, the Euro Acted as a Protection Shield Beyond the Euro Area"

The Governor of the Austrian National Bank, Ewald Nowotny warns to fiscal discipline and talks about economic challenges and opportunities in Europe.
November 15, 2010


Infrastructure Development: Investing in the Future or Incurring Debt?

While industry competes for sites for the development of infrastructure, legitimate questions are being raised on financial issues.
November 15, 2010
Traffic Expenditures: € 4.3bn less

As a consequence of the new budget, public infrastructure projects are being reduced considerably. Postponed projects and low-cost alternatives will save money.
November 12, 2010


Austria: Strong Growth Again in the Third Quarter 2010

According to the latest flash estimate of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), Austria's economy again expanded in the third quarter of 2010 by 0.9% over the previous quarter (after +1.2% in the second quarter).
November 12, 2010


Carinthia: Industry Faces Stagnation

Despite recent positive economic data, Carinthian industrial firms are less confident. For the coming year, a stagnation in production and in profits is expected.
November 11, 2010


Standard & Poor’s: Austria's Credit Rating at Risk

The reasons for such gloomy prospects are not problems with the banks or domestic companies, but rather the demographic situation threaten Austria's credit rating.
November 11, 2010
Erste Group: CEE Companies More Efficient than Western Counterparts

CEE companies are more efficient, more profitable and less indebted as Western companies. The German corporate sector is the only sector to compete with CEE companies.
November 10, 2010


Leitl: Austrians Go into Retirement Too Early

Those who go into early retirement in Austria are rewarded. The government should create more incentives to retire later on in life.
November 10, 2010


Construction Costs: Continuous Upward Trend

Just as previously, construction prices continue rising in Austria. There is no end in sight for the upwards trend.
November 10, 2010
Strong Growth of Austria's Export Figures

Growth in exports was 15.3% in the first eight months of 2010, mainly to emerging markets.
November 10, 2010


OeKB: Further Expansion in CEE Region

According to the OeKB (Oesterreichische Kontrollbank), the business climate index in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) showed an improvement in recent months.
November 9, 2010


Fast Growth in Temporary Employment

The demand for temporary workers has increased strongly on the Austrian labor market strong, reaching almost the level before the economic crisis.
November 9, 2010