Moderate Increase in Investment in 2004

According to the results of the spring 2004 investment survey, investment in manufacturing expressed in current prices was set to grow by 6.6 percent in 2004. In the autumn 2003 investment survey, enterprises had expected their investments in 2004 to stay at the same level as in 2003. Seen overall, this amounts to a strong upward revision since last autumn. The expected increase comes after two years of declining or shifting investments. The present survey found an increase in investment spending of 0.5 percent for 2003, a growth that needs to be seen against lower investment spending in 2002. At -14.8 percent, the decline of 2002 was steeper than had been expected last autumn (-10.4 percent).WIFO-Investitionstest; Sachgütererzeugung; Industrie; Bauwirtschaft; Versorgungssektor; Österreich

Investment Recovery Remains Uncertain. Results of the WIFO Autumn 2002 Investment Survey

According to the investment survey conducted in October-December 2002, fixed capital investment in manufacturing decreased by 9.6 percent in 2002 over the previous year and is expected to grow by 5.7 percent in 2003 (both in current prices). Expressed in constant prices the expected increase in investment is about 4.5 percent. The investment recovery in manufacturing is subject to many risks and uncertainties. The expected increase, for instance, is nearly entirely attributable to the substantial jump in investment in the motor vehicles industry and – to a lesser extent – in the intermediate industry. It is unclear to what extent such plans will actually be implemented. The enterprises in the remaining industries are still extremely cautious about their plans for the current year 2003. Excluding the results for the motor vehicle industry, investment is expected to decrease by 1.8 percent in 2003. The share of investment in non-electronic machinery and equipment increased, while the share of both building investment and electronic equipment fell. In the construction sector, investment spending fell sharply in 2002, with no sign of recovery in 2003. Here enterprises plan to reduce their investment by 5 percent in 2003 (in nominal terms). Suppliers of electricity, gas, water and public transport announce a significant increase in investment spending for 2003. After five years of reductions in capital outlays, the survey results point to growth rates of 18.9 percent for electricity and 31.1 percent for gas, water and public transport.WIFO-Investitionstest; Sachgütererzeugung; Industrie; Bauwirtschaft; Versorgungssektor; Österreich

Planned Manufacturing Investment is Forecast to Increase by 19.2 percent in 2006. Results of the WIFO Spring 2006 Investment Survey

According to the results of the WIFO Spring 2006 Investment Survey, investment in manufacturing (including mining NACE 10 to 14) at current prices declined by 1.3 percent in 2005. For 2006 investment is expected to increase by 19.2 percent. The rise can be observed in all industries. It is largest in consumer and investment goods. Manufacturing firms will also raise investment in hardware (by 25.4 percent) and software (+12.7 percent). The construction industry plans to boost investment by 19.4 percent.WIFO-Investitionstest Sachgütererzeugung Industrie Bauwirtschaft Versorgungssektor Österreich

Planned Manufacturing Investment is Forecast to Increase by 32.7 Percent in 2007. Results of the WIFO Spring 2007 Investment Survey

According to the results of the Spring 2007 Investment Survey, investment in manufacturing (including mining, NACE 10 to 12 and 23) expressed in current prices is expected to increase by 32.7 percent in 2007. In 2006 investment has risen by 4.9 percent. The overall expansion can be mainly attributed to the manufacturers of intermediate and investment goods. In 2007, manufacturing firms will also raise investment in hardware (by 30.6 percent) and software (29.6 percent). The construction industry plans to increase investment by 15.0 percent.WIFO-Investitionstest Sachgütererzeugung Industrie Bauwirtschaft Versorgungssektor Österreich

Investment will Remain Steady at a Low Level. Results of the WIFO Investment Survey of Spring 2003

For 2003, the Austrian manufacturing industry as well as the electricity, gas, water and public transport sectors plan to invest € 6.8 billion at current prices. The plans indicate a minor increase in investment spending, up 1.8 percent compared to 2002, but slower than foreseen in October-November 2002, when a plus of about 5.7 percent was forecast for 2003. The reason for the decline is that industries producing non-durable consumer goods substantially cut back on their investment plans. Another reason for the poor overall investment performance is that investments in buildings will decrease sharply by about 30 percent. In contrast, investment in machinery and equipment including ICT investment will grow by 6.4 percent. This increase will be substantial enough to offset the decline in investment in structures.WIFO-Investitionstest; Sachgütererzeugung; Industrie; Bauwirtsachaft; Versorgungssektor; Österreich

Slight Rise in Investments in 2001. Results of the WIFO Autumn 2000 Investment Survey

The short period of high growth has been interrupted by an increase of oil prices and a slowdown of the U.S. economy and world demand. WIFO recently revised its forecasts for 2001 and now projects a rise in GDP by 2.6 percent, and a fall in Austrian exports to 7 percent, after 12 percent in 2000. Manufacturing will grow by 4.5 percent. The WIFO Business Survey nevertheless finds that manufacturers are still optimistic. However, the indicators for projected production growth over the next months and for business climate in general indicate signals of lower growth expectations in 2001, especially when compared to the extraordinarily rapid expansion of 2000. Similarly, capacity utilisation rates have decreased in recent months. The Austrian manufacturers' assessment of the business climate is in line with that of European manufacturers. The composite indicator of business expectations in Europe recently stabilised at a high level, and there are signs of an impending downturn for the next months. Reflecting the slower growth in demand, and possibly also due to investments already made in 2000 to anticipate the abolition (due at the start of 2001) of the "Investitionsfreibetrag", companies in the survey plan to invest ATS 96.9 billion in 2001, which amounts to just a small increase of 1.4 percent. However, we have to bear in mind that investments grew at the extraordinarily high rate of 18.6 percent in 2000. Companies do not expect any severe deterioration of the business climate. They rather anticipate nominal sales to grow by 5.7 percent, after a pronounced expansion of 7.5 percent in 2000. Investment rates should be highest in the transport equipment, non-durable consumer goods and intermediate products industries. Manufacturers of investment goods, durable goods and food products on the other hand intend to curb their investments. There are substantial regional differences. Whereas manufacturers in western Austria, due to their better access to EU markets, want to intensify their investment spending, their counterparts in the east are planning to retrench. The same pattern is found in employment growth in 2000. The construction industry experienced a slowdown in the second half of 2000, and is expected to grow by just 1 percent in 2001. The sector's firms envisage investing ATS 5.9 billion, a rise by 7 percent. The electric utilities are still undergoing a comprehensive restructuring process and, according to their initial plans, are expected to further reduce their investments in 2001. Public transport enterprises and other utilities (gas, water) foresee an increase in their investments by 1.8 percent. When including the sectors not surveyed, WIFO forecasts a rise in overall investment of 1 percent for 2001.Unternehmen planen 2001 geringe Investitionsausweitung. Ergebnisse des WIFO-Investitionstests vom Herbst 2000; Slight Rise in Investments in 2001. Results of the WIFO Autumn 2000 Investment Survey

Investment will Remain Steady at a Low Level. Results of the Autumn 2003 WIFO Investment Survey

The Austrian manufacturing industry as well as construction, electricity, gas, water and public transport plan to invest € 10.6 billion at current prices in 2004. Total investment is expected to increase slightly by 5.8 percent compared to 2003, after a two-year decrease. In the autumn survey 2003, manufacturers revised the forecast for total investment in 2003 down to –0.3 percent from the previous forecast of +1.8 percent in the spring survey. The main reason for the poor performance in 2004 is that investment in buildings will decrease by about 13.6 percent. By contrast, investment in machinery and equipment including ICT will rise by 1.4 percent. This increase will be substantial enough to offset the decline in investment in structures.WIFO-Investitionstest; Sachgütererzeugung; Industrie; Bauwirtschaft; Versorgungssektor; Österreich

Extraordinary Rise of Investment in 2007. Results of the WIFO Investment Autumn Survey 2006

According to the results of the Autumn 2006 investment survey, investment in manufacturing – expressed in current prices – expanded by 8.1 percent in 2006 and is expected to increase by 20.8 percent in 2007. The largest relative rise is reported for basic and intermediate products, investment goods and mining. The planned increase in investment is negatively related with firm size. Manufacturing firms also plan to raise investment in hardware and software. The construction industry will increase investment by 15.0 percent in 2007.WIFO-Investitionstest Sachgütererzeugung Industrie Bauwirtschaft Österreich