Economic Recovery Surrounded by Risks. Economic Outlook for 2002 and 2003

The Austrian economy is expected to grow by slightly over 1 percent this year, and by more than 2½ percent in 2003. This projection by WIFO has been upheld since last December. It is supported by a tentative rebound in activity in the first quarter and the recent trend in leading indicators. However, the risks deriving from international developments appear somewhat greater now than at the time of the last forecasting round in mid-April. The business cycle upturn in the EU has so far been hesitant, and in the USA the fragility of consumer confidence and the fall on stock markets are adding to uncertainty.