Austria

Government is planning to freeze inflation-linked increases in family allowances from 2026 to 2027, following an austerity package to curb the rising deficit, suspending a key policy introduced in 2023 that helped benefits keep pace with rising prices

Additional HGV driving bans have been introduced on the A10 'Tauern Autobahn' motorway from 16 April to June to smooth out car traffic among construction sites; the ban applies to trucks and vehicle combinations with a GVW over 7,5 t, with exceptions

The European Investment Bank has granted Energie AG Oberösterreich a financing package of up to €400 million for the expansion of hydropower in Austria

In 2024, for the first time in sixteen years, Austria's trade balance was in surplus, with imports lowernthan exports, according to figures provided on Friday by Statistics Austria

On 3 March President Van der Bellen swore in a new Austrian Federal Government formed by the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the NEOS led by Federal Chancellor Stocker (ÖVP), in the first ever three-party coalition

After more than 40 years, the deposit for reusable glass bottles has been increased earlier this month from 9 cents (previously 1,2 Schillings) to 20 cents; brewery products are the most commonly sold in glass bottles

With the start of the tendering process for online casino licences, online gambling operators expect an end to the decades-long gambling monopoly and the opening of the online market

According to data from Austrian Wine Marketing Board, the wine exports in 2024 are expected to decrease from the previous year's record figures; for the first 9 months of 2024, export sales registered -5,1% in value to €175,3 million

The liberal party NEOS announced the abandonment of negotiations to form a coalition government together with the centre-right People's Party and the centre-left Social Democratic Party; in September the extreme right failed to form a coalition government

The Austrian Cultural Forum in Beijing and the Austrian Embassy in China recently opened an art exhibition in Beijing entitled Vienna Calling

The government has initiated an economic support programme for Syrian nationals in Austria who want to return to their country, which mainly consists in the delivery of 1000 euros in cash and practical advice and assistance

The Austrian statistical office reported that the country's GDP contracted for the sixth consecutive quarter in the July-September period, continuing the recessive trend that began in Q2 2023