Austria: Consumer sentiment remains pessimistic in January
Consumer confidence rose to minus 3 in January from minus 4 in December, as Austrian consumers turned slightly less pessimistic as the turn of the year.
January’s improvement came on the back of households’ rosier views of their financial situation over the past year, while their outlook on the financial situation in the year ahead was virtually unchanged. Furthermore, Austrian consumers turned optimistic on the general economic situation over the past year, while their views on the economic climate over the next 12 months grew notably less pessimistic. Lastly, consumers were more inclined to save currently and in the next 12 months, despite the European Central Bank’s ultra-loose monetary policy.