High raw material, material and energy prices continue to place enormous demands on companies in Upper Austria. Nevertheless, the crisis mood is crumbling, also because the representatives of industry, trade and craft are reaching into their box of psychological tricks.
Pink glasses? No, Stefan Pierer, the chairman of the Upper Austrian Industry Federation, does not wear them, nor does Michael Pecherstorfer, the chairman of the trade and crafts section of the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce. “We have never had so many crises in a row in the Second Republic,” says Pecherstorfer.
In conversations with the carpenter and Pierer, however, it is striking that the crisis mood of the last few months, in which the threat of ‘recession’ was omnipresent, is crumbling.
“The Fog Has Lifted”
“The fog has lifted more – we’ll make it,” Pierer emphasizes. The KTM boss realizes how much the industry is suffering from increased energy costs and speaks of strategic disadvantages in global competition. “But that also forces you to scrutinize the processes,” he says. This is optimized as much as possible. Small businesses such as butchers are hit hard.
‘Delta is dangerous’
Pecherstorfer knows that 60 percent of construction companies expect a drop in orders. “A delta is created here that harbors dangers,” says Pecherstorfer, who has now prescribed more “courage and confidence”. No rose-colored glasses, but a helping hand in the bag of tricks to change the mood in the countryside.
“Because if we blame everything, why should the consumer buy?”, says Pecherstorfer. Pierer confirms this: “50 percent of economics is psychology.” And further: “We are optimistic about 2023.”
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
