Austria: Consumer sentiment rises in May
Consumers were neither pessimistic nor optimistic in May, with the consumer confidence index rising to the neutral zero-point mark in May from minus 3 in April. May’s print marked the highest reading since November last year.
The improvement in the headline figure was driven by markedly more upbeat outlooks on the financial situation of households in the past 12 months and the next 12 months. Consumers’ views on the general economic situation over the next 12 months swung from pessimism to optimism while their assessment of the economy in the past 12 months remained very upbeat. As such, consumers still consider the current situation suited to make major purchases; however, consumers are less certain that unemployment will not rise over the next 12 months.