Austria: Manufacturing PMI stabilizes in contractionary territory in September
The UniCredit Bank Austria Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) was stable at August’s 48.8 in September. The index, therefore, remained entrenched below the neutral 50-threshold that separates an overall deterioration in conditions from an improvement in conditions as compared to the prior month.
The stable reading was driven by a softer drop in output, while new business inflows fell at a quicker pace. Anecdotal evidence pointed to the postponement and cancellation of orders due to the bleak economic backdrop. Turning to prices, input price inflation accelerated due to surging energy costs. Consequently, output price inflation rose at a three-month quick pace. More positively, employment growth picked up pace.