First Increase in Private Consumption in Three Years. Economic Outlook for 2016 and 2017

Demand and output in Austria should grow by 1.7 percent in 2016, significantly above the pace recorded for the last four years and closing the growth gap vis-à-vis Germany and the euro area average. While the contribution of net trade is dragging down growth this year, domestic demand is rising substantially. Investment is lively and private households, for the first time in three years, are spending more on consumption in real terms. In 2017, stronger exports should offset some slackening in internal demand, keeping real GDP growth at 1.5 percent.