Cash-Flow-to-Sales Ratio Increased in 2017. Profitability of the Austrian Manufacturing Sector

In 2016, the cash-flow-to-sales ratio of the Austrian manufacturing sector reached an estimated 10.0 percent, a value higher than the previous year's ratio of 9.4 percent. The ratio should have further increased to 11.0 percent in 2017. The rising profitability ratio of manufacturing corresponds with sound economic growth performance of the sector. Its real value-added growth rate amounted to 1.3 percent in 2016 and 6.7 percent in 2017, respectively. According to additional estimates of a dynamic panel-econometric model at the industry level, the cash-flow-to-sales ratio in manufacturing will continue its upward trend in 2018.