Waiting for recovery despite cautiously positive signals
Austrian industry has overcome the particularly weak economic phase in the second half of 2024. “The UniCredit Bank Austria Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 46.7 points in February. With the second increase in a row, the indicator reached its highest value in exactly two years,” says UniCredit Bank Austria Chief Economist Stefan Bruckbauer and adds: “However, the growth threshold of 50 points was once again clearly undercut, which clearly signals that industry in Austria is still in recession at the beginning of 2025. Even if this has eased somewhat, there is no end in sight for the time being.” “Nevertheless, there is some hope for improvement,” continues Bruckbauer, “the production expectations of domestic companies increased significantly over the year, reaching 54.9 points, the best value in six months. That is at least a promise for the more distant future.”
- The UniCredit Bank Austria Purchasing Managers' Index rose for the second month in a row in February to 46.7 points, the highest value for exactly two years
- Significant slowdown in the decline in production due to weakening demand
- Sustained high pace of job cuts
- Higher energy prices led to a rise in costs for the first time in six months
- Due to weak demand, inventories were once again reduced in order to costs
- Moderate improvement in the outlook continued in February: Index of output expectations for the year rose to 54.9 points, the second time in a row in positive territory
UniCredit Bank Austria Purchasing Managers' Index (PDF)
as of February, 2025.
About UniCredit Bank Austria Purchasing Managers' Index
The UniCredit Bank Austria Purchasing Managers' Index offers an evaluation of the economic situation of Austrian industry by selected purchasing managers.
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