Sustained Upswing Drives Down Unemployment

The economy continued on its road to recovery at the start of the year. Manufacturing expanded by 8 percent over the previous year, and retail trade sales (excluding cars) grew by 4 percent in real terms. According to the results of the WIFO business survey, Austrian companies expect the economic situation to be further stimulated. Expanded production is increasingly impacting on the labour market. The brisk demand for labour is reflected in a perceptible decline of unemployment.