Inflation rose to 7.2 percent in April. “Unfortunately, we do not have a crystal ball”, Wifo cannot estimate the development. The subjective feeling that everything is becoming more and more expensive is now also reflected for Mr and Mrs Austrians when they visit an ordinary inn. We did a local inspection in all states – and found some horrendous prices. The wallet was soon empty.
In a restaurant in the 7th arrondissement you now pay 23 euros for traditional Viennese fried meat with side dish and salad. If you calculate that for a family of four, 100 euros with drinks is not enough. No wonder for Mario Pulker, head of hospitality at the Chamber of Commerce: “Many companies have swallowed the price increases until now. Now they have to react.”
Unfortunately the price is not hot at all
The result: price jumps. In Graz, for example, you have to pay 10.90 euros for a “Caesar’s Salad”. If you want shrimp, it costs 5.90 euros – each.
Next stop on our journey through Austria: Lake Wörthersee, a popular summer holiday destination. However, a glass of Aperol now costs 11 euros in some bars in Velden. “Gastronomy and accommodation providers are suffering – including from the rise in wage costs and the lack of skilled workers,” said Anna Burton, an economist at the Economic Research Institute. As a result, there is higher inflation in this area.
Back to our local inspection. The popular Salzburg dumplings have become up to twelve percent more expensive since the beginning of the year. The fair in Linz must also be full. In the renowned Café Traxlmayr, a buggy costs only 5.70 euros, while a scoop of summer refreshment at a nearby ice cream parlor costs 2.50 euros.
The development does not stop at Tyrol either. The price for a piece of cake in a restaurant in Mieming has risen from EUR 4.20 to EUR 5 – an increase of 19 percent.
Austria ranks relatively well in an EU comparison
For the spokesman of the Tyrolean innkeepers in the Chamber of Commerce, Alois Rainer, the end of the road has not yet been reached. “We expect increases of ten percent or more in the hospitality industry.” But how far will inflation go? The Wifo does not dare to make predictions. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a crystal ball,” Burton said. The fact is that Austria has been in the bottom third of inflation in an EU comparison over the past four months, ie doing relatively well.
That’s cold comfort to Pulker. “Gastronomy is a meeting place that must be preserved.” Otherwise, a visit to the local pub quickly becomes a luxury…
Stefan Schnittka, Kronen Zeitung
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
