Medium-term Economic Growth above 2 percen. Projections for the Austrian Economy until 2010

The Austrian economy is expected to grow by 2.1 percent per year until 2010, exceeding the average rate for the euro area. The increase in external demand and the high competitiveness of domestic companies will drive exports in the years to come. The upgrading of the transportation infrastructure and the expected revival of residential building will boost construction output. Also, private household consumption should progressively pick up from its extended stagnation of the past years. However, the overall expansion is unlikely to be strong enough as to make inroads into unemployment. Against this background, price and wage increases will remain moderate. With the impact of the 2005 tax reform waning, the general government deficit should steadily decline, provided the authorities maintain a stance of sustained restraint on expenditure.