WIFO-Investitionsbefragung (Investment Survey) of Spring 2026

The results of the WIFO Investment Survey suggest that investment activity in 2026 will likely remain subdued. The war in Iran and geopolitical uncertainties are casting doubt on the nascent economic recovery once again. The majority of manufacturing and services firms report cutbacks. At the subsector level, however, the picture is mixed. Within manufacturing, it is primarily manufacturers of investment and intermediate goods who report reductions in their investment plans. In the services sector, positive reports predominate, although firms in the investment-intensive "administrative and support service activities" sector expect reductions. While small and medium-sized enterprises are expected to scale back their investment, large firms report rather expansionary plans. The weak investment momentum is driven by declines in the equipment and infrastructure sectors. WIFO forecasts for the Austrian economy as a whole exhibit a considerable range in real gross fixed capital formation for 2026, depending on the further course of the war in Iran.