30.04.2026

Slight GDP Growth in the First Quarter of 2026

WIFO Flash Estimate

According to the latest WIFO Flash Estimate, Austria's economic output expanded slightly in the first quarter of 2026: +0.2 percent in real terms compared with the previous quarter. Value added rose moderately in industry, whereas it fell once more in construction. Growth in the service sectors varied amoung subgroups.

According to preliminary estimates, real GDP rose by 0.2 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the previous quarter (key figure according to Eurostat specifications). This marked a return to slight growth following stagnation in the fourth quarter of 2025. Year-on-year, this represents an increase of 0.6 percent compared with the first quarter of 2025. The outbreak of the Iran war in March 2026 had only a small impact on this quarter.

Slightly positive momentum came from industry (NACE 2008, sections B to E) in the first quarter of 2026, where value added expanded by 0.4 percent. In the construction sector, however, the downward trend continued (–0.5 percent).

Consumer-related services also performed weakly. In the trade, transport, accommodation and food services sector (NACE 2008, sections G to I), value added fell by 0.4 percent. In the transport sector, the war in Iran is likely to have contributed to the decline, whereas trade made a positive contribution to growth.

In the sector of other business activities (NACE 2008, sections M and N), growth remained subdued (–0.4 percent), whilst the remaining service sectors performed positively.

On the demand side, consumption expenditures underpinned the economy. Private household consumption expenditure (including non-profit institutions serving households) rose by 0.8 percent, whilst public consumption demand increased by 0.4 percent. Gross fixed capital formation also expanded (+1.0 percent). Exports remained virtually stagnant, whilst imports were 0.9 percent higher than in the previous quarter.

Important information

The WIFO Flash Estimate is an initial estimate for the previous quarter. It is based on Statistic's Austria quarterly accounts and comprises GDP as well as its main components in the form of seasonally and calendar-adjusted rates of change compared with the previous quarter (indicator in accordance with Eurostat guidelines).

On 5 June 2026, Statistics Austria will publish the quarterly data for GDP and the main aggregates for the first quarter of 2026 based on more recent data.