Unemployment to Decline as Economic Activity Picks up. Economic Outlook for 1999 and 2000

The Austrian business cycle passed its trough at the turn of the year. Since then, cyclical indicators have tended upwards. Real GDP is projected to grow by 2.2 percent in 1999 and by 2.6 percent in 2000. Exports, while still subdued for the time being, are set to recover with the upturn in Europe and the stabilisation in the "emerging market" countries. Domestic demand should advance strongly in both years and contribute towards an improvement in the labour market. For the first time since 1994, unemployment is set to decline notably: by 10,000 in 1999, and a further 6,000 next year.