The Austrian economy grew by 0.2% quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2026, in line with preliminary estimates and matching the revised expansion recorded in the previous quarter. Household consumption growth slowed to 0.1% from 0.4% in Q4, while public consumption increased markedly, rising by 1.6%. Fixed investment stabilized after having contracted by 0.9% in the prior period.
Net trade exerted a drag on GDP, as exports declined by 0.7%, exceeding the 0.5% drop in imports. On the production side, manufacturing output strengthened, expanding by 1% compared with 0.3% in the previous quarter and thereby delivering a substantial boost to growth. Activity in real estate also accelerated, rising by 1% after a 0.3% increase in Q4.
By contrast, output fell in several sectors: agriculture, forestry and fishing (-2.2% vs 3.0% in Q4), construction (-0.6% vs -0.4%), wholesale and retail trade (-0.2% vs -0.5%), and transportation (-0.9% vs 0%). On a year-on-year basis, GDP expanded by 0.9%, revised up from an initial estimate of 0.6%, after a 1% increase in the previous quarter.
