The UniCredit Bank Austria Manufacturing PMI climbed to 54.9 in September 2026 from 54.4 in August, marking its highest reading since May 2022 and staying above the 50 expansion threshold for the seventh consecutive month. The improvement was driven primarily by a sharp and faster increase in new orders, which rose at the quickest rate since January 2022, supported by stronger export demand, AI-related orders, and customers bringing forward purchases. Output expanded for a fifth straight month, although the pace of growth eased slightly from August’s 55‑month high.
At the same time, employment increased for a second consecutive month as capacity pressures intensified, and firms stepped up both purchasing activity and inventory building. On the price front, input cost inflation accelerated to a three‑month high, reflecting in part higher oil, energy, and transport costs, while output price inflation remained elevated.
