Purchasing Power

CPI: Austrian Inflation Rate Increased Slightly to 1.8% Y/Y

The annual inflation rate of the consumer price index measured by Statistics Austria went up to 1.8% in May 2014 (April 1.7%).

June 16, 2014

Austrians Cautiously Observant

Despite economic recovery the Austrian citizens are still cautiously observant.

April 22, 2014

Austria: Government Wants “Restrictive Budget Performance”

Today the Austrian government has decided upon a “restrictive budget performance.

April 8, 2014

Fitch: Polish Rating Foundations Very Solid

As reported by news portal “Warsaw Voice”, rating agency Fitch considers the Polish credit rating foundations to be very solid.

April 8, 2014

Austria: “Financial Crisis is Not Yet Over”

Deputy Chancellor and Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger considers the financial crisis not to be completely over.

April 2, 2014

Leitl: “Growth Must Not Mean Less Reforms”

Economic growth is now weaker than in the previous phases of upturn.

March 28, 2014

Poland: Promising Years Ahead

Poland observes the crisis in Ukraine with great concern, but does not forget to upgrade national resources.

March 25, 2014

Recovery of Austrian Economy Continues

Austrian economy continues its recovery despite weaker upswing.

March 17, 2014

Poland: “Time for Belt-Tightening”

Poland is required to cut the deficit in the public finance sector.

March 13, 2014

Poland: Economic Growth to Accelerate

According to the latest estimates of the Polish National Bank (NBP), the annual economic recovery could accelerate to 3.7 percent in the period from 2014 to 2016.

March 11, 2014

Poland: Fastest Growing Economy in EU

According to the EU Commission, Poland will see the fastest growth in 2014 among the largest former communist countries of the European Union.

February 26, 2014

Austria: Tax Increases to be Resolved

The Austrian National Assembley will resolve tax increases.

February 24, 2014

Austria: Wifo Projects Gloomy Economic Outlook

A restrained economic growth, high unemployment rate and measures for the consolidation of the state budget are the factors which affect the economic development on a medium-term.

February 21, 2014

“Polish Economy at Crossroads“

In an interview with Austrian daily “WirtschaftsBlatt“, Ryszard Petru, chairman of the Society of Policy Economists, sees high chances for the Polish economy; however, only if the country knows how to support innovation.

February 21, 2014

Austria: Economic Upturn Still in Standby-Mode

According to the analysis of the economic indicator of Bank Austria, there is moderate growth and hope for the first quarter in 2014.

February 17, 2014

Slovenian Economy to Shrink “Only” 2 Percent

According to the ERBD’s (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) revision, Slovenia’s economy will shrink “only” 2 percent up from a 2.5 contraction of GDP which was forecast in November.

January 22, 2014

Erste Group: Moderate Economic Recovery in Eurozone

Euro area sentiment indicators point to a continuation of the moderate recovery, according to Erste Bank.

January 20, 2014

Southeastern Europe Endangered of Civil Unrests

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, several CESEE countries may face civil unrests in 2014. In particular, Southeastern Europe is in the danger zone.

January 4, 2014

Austria: Purchasing Power Shrinks Further

According to Generali insurance group, Austrians expect that their real income shrinks further.

December 30, 2013

Wifo: Sluggish Growth Because of Weak Consumption

According to Wifo’s (Austrian Institute of Economic Research) prognosis for the coming years, economic upturn in Austria will remain flat because of weak consumption.

December 19, 2013

Poland: GDP Growth Speeds up

The long-awaited economic recovery starts to accelerate in Poland.

December 2, 2013

Leitl: Growth Stimulating Measures for Budget Consolidation

Leitl calls for growth stimulating measures which are the basis for the consolidation of the Austrian budget.

November 28, 2013

OECD: Restructuring of Banks Required

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) calls for a fast progress in the establishing of a banking union in the Eurozone and restructuring of the banking sector to boost economic growth.

November 19, 2013

Bank Austria: Economic Recovery Continues

The Bank Austria Business Indicator provides an overview of the current economic situation in Austria.

November 18, 2013

Austria: Slight Economic Growth

The Austrian Institute for Economic Research (Wifo) has forecast an increase of the macroeconomic production by 0.2 percent in real terms compared to the previous quarter.

November 14, 2013

Half of Austrians Consider the Country Stuck in Recession

According to an online survey, the Austrians are confident and not concerned by the most recent recession in the Eurozone. With a total of 87 index points consumer’s confidence remained stable in the third quarter of 2013.

November 12, 2013

Czech Republic: CNB to Intervene in Forex Market

After the Czech koruna (CZK) was devalued, the Czech National Bank (CNB) is keen on preventing a deflation. However, the key rate cannot be cut anymore as it is close to zero.

November 11, 2013

Stable Outlook for Recovery of Austrian Economy

The outlook for economic improvement has stabilized. Both Wifo’s economy test and Wifo’s early indicator point to an upward trend.

November 8, 2013

Serbia: Only Minor Growth Expected

In 2014 the Western Balkan state is expected to achieve only an insignificant economic growth rate.

November 6, 2013

Austria: Saving Quota Down

At the moment, the savings ratio only comes at 5.2%. An increasing number of Austrians suffer from a declining real income.

October 31, 2013

Slovenia: Income Falls Persistently

Average monthly earnings for August 2013 lower than in the previous month both in nominal and in real terms. Annual earnings were down by 2.5% in real terms.

October 17, 2013

Austria: Purchasing Power Grows Slightly

According to a study published by RegioData Research, Austria could improve its level of purchasing power in the years from 2008 to 2012.

October 15, 2013

Austrian Savings Quota Drops

Compared to 2012, Austrians have less financial room. The savings quota falls from 7.4% to 5.2%.

October 11, 2013

Romania: Recovery Depends on External Factors

Thanks to foreign demand and foreign investors, Romania´s economy accelerates. However, domestic demand is still the country´s weak point.

October 4, 2013

Wifo: Austrian Economy Sees Upturn

Today the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (Wifo) has released its prognosis for 2013 and 2014. The institute sees the first signs of an economic recovery.

October 4, 2013

Economic Recovery and Interest Rate Turnaround Also in Austria?

Not only Germany but also the peripheral areas of the European Union see economic recovery supported by an increasing export activity.

October 3, 2013

Serbia: Minor Growth of GDP

Serbia's real GDP growth in second quarter of year stands at 0.2%

October 1, 2013

Modest Increase in Croatian Purchase Power

Croatian per capita consumer spending is forecast to increase by a modest 18% to 2017.

October 1, 2013

Poland: Budget for 2014 Realistic

According to Witold Kozinski, Deputy Govenor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), the budget plan for 2014 is “realistic” and the risk of amendmends to the budget minimal.

September 23, 2013

Faymann: Austria as Role Model for Investments and Employment Programs

The Austrian Chancellor calls for a fair distribution of wealth and lower taxes on wages.

September 20, 2013

Poland: Minor Slowdown in Industrial Production

On a year-on-year comparison basis, industrial output increased 2.2 percent in August while it declined 4.5 percent compared to July this year.

September 19, 2013

Croatia: No End of Recession in Sight

For the seventh quarter in a row, Croatia´s GDP was down. The main problem is the weakening domestic consumption and the high unemployment quota.

September 19, 2013

Austria: ÖVP Rejects Tax Reforms by Social Democrats

Chancellor and Leader of the Social Democrats Werner Faymann is in favor of lower taxes on wages. His model includes reliefs of up to € 1,011 annually. However, coalition partner, the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) rejects the plans.

September 18, 2013

Austria: Inflation Rate on Lowest Level in Three Year

In August, food became significantly more expensive while the prices for fuel decreased 4.7 percent. The inflation rate dropped 1.8 percent.

September 16, 2013

Bulgaria: Annual Inflation of 2.9 Percent

Bulgaria's annual average inflation was 2.9 percent on a year-on-year comparison.

September 13, 2013

Poland: Economic Growth to Speed Up

According to GUS, the Polish Central Statistical Office, GDP grew by 0.8 percent in the second quarter of 2013 on a year-on-year comparison basis, which is an increase of 0.3 percent from 0.5 percent in the first quarter of the year.

September 2, 2013

Croatia: „Insufficient Move Towards the Positive Direction“

Croatia hopes its economy is moving in the "positive direction".