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
Raiffeisen CEO Stepic: CEE Continues Being Europe’s Growth Driver
The boss of Raiffeisen Bank International Bank (RBI), Herbert Stepic, sees the CEE region continuing as long-term growth driver for Europe.
November 8, 2010
Union: Call After 40 weeks of Work per Year
The Union of Salaried Employees (GPA) presents a new working model.
November 5, 2010
Industry: Recovery Dynamics are Leveling Off
IV’s (Federation of Austrian Industries) economic barometer shows minor increases; there is a gradual return to normal capacity. Only a small momentum is to be expected in employment and earnings growth.
November 4, 2010
Working Time Flexibility Prevented Mass Unemployment
During the crisis, many German and Austrian companies flexibilized the working hours of their employees. These measures helped to ease the labor market situation.
November 4, 2010
IHS Boss Felderer Pleads for Railway Tunnel
The debate about the controversial Koralm tunnel is being enriched. IHS (Institute for Advanced Studies) boss Felderer argues strongly for the infrastructure measure.
November 3, 2010
Arbeiterkammer: Labor Force in Austria Remains Highly Profitable
The representatives of the interests of workers and employees raise criticism on the extents of wage and salary increases with a self-created study. The argument of the companies about the need to build up reserves is incorrect.
November 2, 2010
Energy Prices Rise Steeply
An increase of 6.7% was recorded for energy prices in the yearly comparison. The relevance of alternative energy sources will increase significantly in future, as energy price increases are expected to continue in the long term.
November 2, 2010
Too Few New Companies?
Austria comes out of the international comparison poorly in terms of start-up companies. The major problem is the lack of venture capital, according to the studies.
November 2, 2010
Unemployment: Sharp Decline in October
Compared with the previous year, unemployment was reduced by 8%. The decline is attributed primarily to an increase in the demand for temporary workers.
November 2, 2010
Industry: Good Prospects for 2011
The general optimism in the industry leads to the expansion of production and more personnel recruiting.
October 28, 2010
Lending Policy of Banks is Stabilized
Results for Austria of the October 2010 credit business survey in the euro area
October 28, 2010
Flexible Working Hours: Top Position of Austria in Europe
Both employers and workers benefit from what the crisis achieved, according to the EU Commission. However, additional flexibility does not bring in itself greater equality.
October 27, 2010
New Budget: Details and Reactions
The entire tax package will bring additional revenues for around 1.2 billion euro. There are further saving measures for 1.6 billion euro. Reactions from the economic actors are ambivalent.
October 25, 2010
New Budget, New Taxes
The budget includes a new austerity package, which consists essentially of taxes on mineral oil, tobacco and banks.
October 25, 2010
Increase in Mineral Oil Tax likely
Economy Minister Mitterlehner speaks of a possible moderate increase.
October 21, 2010
Criticism of Austria's Allocation of Subsidies
Both the volume and the organization of the allocation of subsidies are susceptible of improvement, experts say.
October 21, 2010
IMF Considers Recovery as "Moderate and Uneasy"
Growth in Europe seems to be normalizing slowly. Dynamism is missing though, and many vulnerabilities are as yet unresolved.
October 20, 2010
Vienna Stock Exchange - Today's Winners and Losers
Daily News from the Stock Exchange
October 19, 2010
Austrian Federal Railways in Debt Crisis
Several infrastructure projects will increase the debt burden of the Federal Railways dramatically. This could bring considerable effects for the financial situation of the whole Federation.
October 19, 2010
Tax Evaders Targeted by the Ministers of Finance
Budget problems plague the majority of EU countries. In addition to budget discipline, the prosecution of tax evaders is to be addressed.
October 18, 2010
Industry Representatives are Satisfied with New Skilled Workers Regulation
Industry sees the new based immigration model based on criteria as a viable compromise.
October 18, 2010
Slight Fall in Corporate Tax
On the other hand, indirect taxes experienced an increasing trend. Despite tax competition, tax increases are expected due to budget needs.
October 18, 2010
Deal of the Social Partners on Immigration and Social Dumping
Introduction of the "Red-White-Red Card" to combat abuse in the labor market
October 17, 2010
WIFO-Boss Aiginger Calls Government for Economization
Aiginger claims for reforms in the tax system
October 17, 2010
Production Quota of OPEC Remains Stable
There was consensus in the Vienna-based OPEC. Members show their satisfaction with the current situation.
October 15, 2010
Stability Pact with Federal States Has Never Been Met
Deficits of the federal states were too high already since 2001, as well as the deficits of the federation. The surplus of the municipalities couldn´t offset them.
October 14, 2010
CEOs of Stock Exchange Alert: Vienna´s Taxation Plans Cast Investors out
The heads of Vienna´s stock exchange, Schaller and Bohl, fear that the introduction of capital and transactional taxes downgrades Austria´s capital market.
October 14, 2010
General Government Expenditure by Function (COFOG) 2009: Increases in Social Expenditure
In 2009, public finances in Austria were affected by the economic and financial crisis, leading to an increase in expenditure of 3.9%. Statistics Austria's most recent data show a 6% increase of social expenditure in the year 2009.
October 13, 2010
OeNB Governor Nowotny Contradicts the Deutsche Bundesbank
"The ECB should not give up purchasing bonds". Although the bond purchase program of the ECB was not needed in recent weeks, Nowotny wants to go on having it "in reserve”. The German Bundesbank warns of a too late withdrawal.
October 13, 2010
Wholesale price index plus 7.1%
The index of wholesale prices, WPI 2005, amounted to 112.8 (preliminary value) in September 2010 and has increased by 1.1% against August 2009.
October 8, 2010
Austrian Statistics - Exports and imports increased more than 12%
According to preliminary results, total imports amounted to 62.84 bn euro and total exports amounted to 61.13 bn euro in the period January to July 2010.
October 8, 2010
Austria is Getting More Popular Among Arab People
Arab tourists find Austria increasingly pleasant. So far this year, the number of arrivals between January and August grew by 21% to 91,600 as compared to the same period of the previous year.
October 8, 2010
Credit Monitor: Further Decline in Foreign Currency Loans
Such is the development of domestic loans to non-banks in July 2010
October 6, 2010
Qualified Workforce: Austria’s Target is to Attract Skilled Immigrants
ÖAAB General Secretary Lukas Mandl: "Germany has long been an immigration country. Austria also has to become one. Austria’s target should be to attract skilled immigrants, after identifying the needs."
October 6, 2010
European Cities Monitor 2010 - Vienna is the biggest mover
According to Cushman & Wakefield research, this year Vienna is the biggest mover, rising up the ranking by six places to 22nd place.
October 5, 2010
FDI - Austrian enterprises still expanding abroad; foreign enterprises in Austria stagnate
In 2008, Austrian enterprises still expanded their shares in foreign enterprises. 4 899 Austrian affiliates abroad meant a 14% rise in comparison to 2007.
October 5, 2010
Household Energy: Prices Rose by 5.4%
Households have to pay on average 5.4% more for energy in Austria than one year ago. Diesel is 10.4% more expensive in the yearly comparison.
October 4, 2010
Austria: Economic Recovery Continues
OeNB economic indicator: After the exceptionally strong economic recovery for the first half year, the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) expects sustained high economic dynamics in Austria for the second half year.
October 1, 2010
Vienna now has its own Expat Center
In Vienna, the first Expat Center in Austria was opened. The project was handled by the Vienna Business Agency (former WWFF).
September 30, 2010
Austria exceeds the Maastricht GDP reference value by 0.5%
Public Finances 2009: Public deficit increases to 3.5% due to the economic and financial crisis.
September 30, 2010
Unemployment - Total number of persons unemployed down by 12.5%
In the third quarter of 2010, the total number of persons unemployed according to international definitions was 194,100, a decrease of 27,700 persons (-12.5%) compared to the third quarter of 2009.
September 30, 2010
Austria - Construction orders down by 4.6% in June
Volume of orders in construction of buildings and civil engineering decreasing by 4.6% at the end of June 2010.
September 29, 2010
Austria - Construction output down by 9.1%
Output of construction of buildings and civil engineering decreasing from January to June 2010: -9.1%
September 29, 2010
Austria - Turnover in industry and construction in June 2010 up 14.3%
60,657 enterprises in the entire industry and construction sector turned over a total of EUR 19.7 bn.
September 29, 2010
EU: Austria's Actual Net Contribution has Risen to 342 Million Euro
The net contribution to the EU rose again last year. Poland, with 6.5 billion euro is for the first time the biggest net recipient. Germany remains the biggest net payer with 8.1 billion euro.
September 28, 2010
Insolvencies: Declining Trend for Both Companies and Individuals
KSV expects 10% less insolvencies for 2010, but warns about the consequences of fiscal budget adjustment.
September 28, 2010
CEE Real Estate: Outlook is brightening
CEE real estate stocks are currently in a phase of brisk corporate action. Financially sound companies with attractive assets are interesting takeover targets, while other companies are being taken over.
September 27, 2010
Austrian tourism - summer season 2010 plus 1.1%
The most important summer month stabilizes the positive development of the current season (+1.1%)
September 24, 2010
Economy - Registrations of motor vehicles up in August
Registrations of used motor vehicles in August 2010: +9.9%; passenger cars +11.4%, lorries +6.6%. A total of 85 041 registrations of used motor vehicles were observed in August 2010, which is 9.9% more than in August 2009.
September 23, 2010
Austria's Management and Supervisory Boards’ Salaries on the Test Bench
The partly state-run OMV had the most expensive board of all Austrian corporations in 2009. In total, the oil company spent 10.2 million euro on its bosses, 23.4% more than the previous year.
September 20, 2010
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