Inflation continues to hold Austria firmly under its spell. Eight in ten compatriots clearly feel the consequences of inflation. This is evident from a current study by durchblicker.at. People also save at Christmas. “Save 70 percent on gifts this year,” explains durchblicker boss Martin Spona in a conversation with Jana Pasching.
In addition to gifts, according to current research, people also save on Christmas decorations, Advent calendars or holiday shopping. The residents of Burgenland in particular, but also the residents of Carinthia and Vienna, are paying more attention to money this year. Households in Vorarlberg limit themselves the least at Christmas.
Austrians “more positive” than last year
The financial situation of Austrians is still not rosy, but at least more relaxed than recently: many are – despite rising fixed costs – optimistic about their financial situation for 2024. While in September 2022 two-thirds of all households (66 percent) pessimistic about the future and did not expect their income to improve, that figure currently stands at ‘only’ 56 percent.
Many households hope that the KV increases will provide relief; 43 percent expect the deal to exceed the inflation rate.
You can see the entire interview with durchblicker CEO Martin Spona in the video above.
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.
