Manufacturing Sector Plans Substantial Cuts in Investment for 2009. Results of the WIFO Spring 2009 Investment Survey

According to the results of WIFO's Spring 2009 Investment Survey, investment in manufacturing (at current prices) is expected to decrease by 15 percent in 2009. A detailed look at broad manufacturing industry groups shows that the fall will be most pronounced in motor vehicles with a decline of 46 percent in 2009 as compared to the previous year, followed by durable consumer goods (–24 percent). The decrease is less pronounced in intermediate goods. In 2009, manufacturing firms will boost investment in hardware (by 17.7 percent) and software (+21.5 percent). According to the survey, manufacturing firms increased their investment in research and development (R&D) (+2.5 percent) and for environmental protection (+1.1 percent) in 2008. The construction industry plans to reduce investment by 33.8 percent in 2009.