Economic Indicators in Industry Stabilised at Low Level. Business Cycle Report of June 2009

The Austrian economy contracted by 2.6 percent during the first quarter, compared with the previous quarter, and by 3.5 percent, compared with the previous year. Owing to the downturn, the unemployment rate accelerated to 6.6 percent in May, exceeding the year-earlier level by 1½ percentage points. April and May saw production expectations in the industrial sector improve slightly, though.