The cyclical trend continues to be extremely favourable: during the first two months of 2000, goods production and exports were increasing at double-digit rates over the comparable period of the year before. WIFO's business surveys as well as the May 2000 labour market data point to an uninterrupted continuation of the upward movement. However, the risk of inflation is gradually increasing: petrol prices rose by about 6 percent in May, and the increase of indirect taxes and charges will add ½ percent to the consumer price index.