The Outlook for 1994 and 1995: Renewed GDP Growth Stops Rise in Unemployment

The prospects for the Austrian economy are looking good. Gross Domestic Product will increase by 2½ percent in 1994, and by 3 percent in 1995. This rate of growth will be accompanied by a significant increase in employment and will at least stop the unemployment rate from rising further. At the same time, the rate of inflation will fall to 2.2 percent in 1995, mainly as a result of the effects of Austria's membership in the EU. However, there are some negative sides to this development: the deficits in the federal budget and in the trade balance will rise, and tourism activity will slow down.