Boom Continuing Amid Rising Risks. Business Cycle Report of August 2007

The Austrian economy grew by 1 percent quarter-on-quarter or 3.8 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, according to the WIFO estimate. Economic activity has thus continued to gather momentum – unlike on EU average. Investment and merchandise exports are the key drivers of the boom, whereas private consumption still shows little signs of a pickup. Real net income per employee is stagnating, with the increase in purchasing power for the most part attributable to strong gains in employment. For the second half of the year, financial market turbulences point to increased international risks.