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6 clusters · 17 sources · 51 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: BUSINESS

Swiss, German & Austrian SME confidence

Entities: Sandra Kern · Ricardo-José Vybiral · Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) · KSV1870 Holding · Lower Austria

Overview

Early June surveys showed a sharp dip in optimism among SMEs in Switzerland’s Zürich canton and Germany, with weak demand, rising energy costs and geopolitical uncertainty cited as key drags. By mid‑June, regional data hinted at a modest rebound: Austria’s Bank Austria index edged higher and Saxony‑Anhalt firms reported a rise to 57 % rating conditions as good or very good, driven mainly by services.

In early July, Austria’s Chamber of Commerce indicated further improvement, with 26 % of firms now rating their situation as “good” and optimism over orders and revenues increasing, while German automotive dealers saw dealer and workshop indices move into positive territory and EV sales gain traction.

Mid‑July data reinforced this trend. The Austrian Chamber’s latest survey confirmed the 26 % “good” rating, noting better order and revenue expectations and calls for tax, bureaucracy and labour‑cost relief. Germany’s Q2 2026 BIX shows car‑dealership indices edging up to 97 and workshops turning positive at 101, with 23 % of dealers reporting higher EV sales.

A July 21 regional survey of Austrian industrial firms revealed diverging trends. In Lower Austria, confidence fell sharply, with the IV‑NÖ index at –28.8 points and the earnings indicator at a record –44; nearly half of respondents rated the climate as poor and most expected earnings to stay unchanged. By contrast, firms in Carinthia judged conditions more positively—43 % rated the climate good and order books were stable—though they also flagged high labour costs, bureaucracy and energy prices as ongoing threats. The mixed picture highlights that, while national‑level sentiment is gradually improving, regional disparities and cost pressures continue to temper confidence across the three economies.

Timeline

  1. 2 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 6 sources
    Lower Austria faces rising unemployment and unfilled job vacancies

    In Lower Austria, over 75% of firms leave vacancies unfilled and 76% cut hiring, while unemployment rose 5.6% to over 49,000, hitting women and workers over 60 hardest.

  2. 11 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    Austrian regional industry surveys reveal bleak outlook in Lower Austria, modest optimism in Carinthia

    Lower Austria's industrial survey reports a critical earnings outlook and worsening confidence, while Carinthia's poll shows modest optimism but warns of investment and cost challenges.

  3. 16 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Austria's firms show growing optimism in WKÖ economic barometer

    A WKÖ survey of over 4,300 Austrian firms shows improved outlook on orders, sales and hiring, especially among larger companies, but investment plans stay weak and construction remains pessimistic.

  4. 23 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Austrian SMEs report improved outlook, German auto dealers show modest gains in Q2 2026

    Austrian SMEs see optimism rise to 26 % good outlook in Q2 2026, while German auto dealers report modest index gains and stronger electric‑car sales.

  5. about 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Austrian and German regional business confidence shows modest improvement

    Austrian sentiment improves slightly as Bank Austria forecasts modest growth, while German Saxony‑Anhalt SMEs show increased optimism, especially in services, amid war and energy‑price pressures.

  6. about 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Swiss and German SMEs report growing pessimism over demand and outlook

    Swiss and German SME surveys show declining optimism, weak demand, liquidity strains and rising insolvency fears, amid geopolitical and energy cost concerns.

Sources

5min.at · amp.krone.at · cash.ch · finanzen.at · haustechnik-dialog.de · img.zeit.de · imgl.krone.at · kaernten.orf.at · kfz-betrieb.vogel.de · kleinezeitung.at · krone.at · kurier.at · m.kurier.at · noe.orf.at · noen.at · salz-tv.at · top-news.at