"In Austria, supply restrictions and the sharp drop in demand in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a massive reduction in economic output. Business expectations have recently improved", says the author of the current WIFO Business Cycle Report Christian Glocker.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the global economy and trade. After global economic growth had already lost momentum since the end of 2019, the downturn was significantly intensified as a result of the measures taken to contain the pandemic. In the first quarter, US GDP contracted by 1.3 percent compared to the previous quarter, and that of the EU member countries by 3.3 percent.
In Austria, as well, the supply restrictions and the plummeting demand led to a massive reduction in economic output (seasonally and working-day adjusted according to Eurostat: first quarter 2020 –2.6 percent compared to the previous quarter). The measures taken at both domestic and international level to contain the pandemic affected economic activity in Austria on a broad basis. A large part of the consumer-related service branches was hit, some of which had to discontinue or largely restrict their business activities. Exports also fell sharply. Industrial production was 12.5 percent below the previous year's level. In addition to the drop in demand, border closures in particular hampered the supply of primary and intermediate products.
The leading indicators from the WIFO-Konjunkturtest (business cycle survey) once again show a predominantly negative assessment of the current situation. Business expectations, however, have recently improved – the corresponding index increased in May after the historic slump in April.
The impact of the pandemic countermeasures is seriously affecting the labour market. Although the situation on the labour market eased somewhat in May following a massive rise in unemployment, the overall situation remains precarious. The unemployment rate is still above its previous peak. According to preliminary estimates, the number of persons in active employment in May was 162,000 lower than in the previous year (–4.4 percent). By comparison, in April the number of persons in active employment was 185,900 lower than in the previous year. The number of unemployed registered with the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) was 194,350 higher in May than in the previous year (+69.7 percent), including persons in training by 174,100 (+50.7 percent). According to the national definition, the unemployment rate was thus up 4.7 percentage points on the previous year in May to an expected 11.5 percent.
