Following a cyclical downturn in 2014, the Austrian economy is set to grow at a moderate pace of 1.3 percent p.a. over the period from 2015 to 2019. Private consumption and investment will experience a sluggish growth, while the external contribution to GDP growth will remain modest. The gradual...

The WIFO Business Cycle Survey serves as an important early-indication tool for the economic situation in Austria. Using a Markov regime-switching model, it is possible to determine at an early point in time whether the business cycle is in its upward or downward mode. Regime probabilities are...

After the slump in economic growth between late 2012 and the middle of 2013, the Austrian economy is expected to follow a moderate upward trend, with GDP growth averaging 1.8 percent p.a. over the period 2014-2018. Private consumption in particular will remain subdued, as private households seem...

WIFO has been conducting its Business Cycle Survey since 1954. Today, some 1,600 businesses, with altogether more than 200,000 employees, are participating in the survey. The findings of the survey are analysed to obtain leading indicators of the state of the Austrian economy. The analysis shows...

In 2013, the cash-flow-to-sales ratio of the Austrian manufacturing sector reached an estimated 9.0 percent, a value significantly below the long-run average of 9.6 percent. The persistently muted performance of the manufacturing sector has affected the cash-flow-to-sales ratio, which declined...

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and the EU Commission have submitted – widely harmonised – proposals for reforming the capital requirements for banks and investment firms (Basel II). The object of the reform is to strengthen the stability of the financial market by aligning the...

As of 1997, private adjustable-rate loan contracts must be provided with a clause governing interest rate changes which meets the requirements of the Consumer Protection Act. This legal stipulation is of particular importance for private loans granted by banks and for loans to individuals. More...