Austria Manufacturing PMI Falls to 7-Month Low

2026-01-28 10:00 By Erika Ordonez 1 min. read

The UniCredit Bank Austria Manufacturing PMI fell to 47.2 in January 2026 from 49.3 in the previous month.

It marked the lowest reading since June 2025, as production declined for the first time in four months amid weak international demand.

Moreover, new orders fell for a second straight month at the fastest pace since June 2025, driven mainly by a sharp fall in export demand, pulling order books lower after a brief improvement in December.

At the same time, employment continued to fall, with job cuts accelerating as firms operated below capacity.

On the pricing front, input costs rose at one of the fastest rates in nearly three years, driven by higher energy and metal prices.

In contrast, output prices fell for the ninth consecutive month amid intense competitive pressure, squeezing margins.

Looking ahead, manufacturers remained cautiously optimistic about future production, though confidence eased slightly from December’s multi-year high.



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Austria Manufacturing PMI Hits 3-Month High
The UniCredit Bank Austria Manufacturing PMI rose to 49.4 in February 2026 from 47.2 in January, marking its highest level since November 2025, driven by the first growth in new work in nearly four years. Manufacturers recorded a renewed rise in new orders, helping to stabilize output even as overall production remained largely unchanged. Meanwhile, firms continued to cut employment and purchasing activity amid cost pressures, with input costs rising at the fastest pace in over three years and output prices increasing for the first time since April 2025. In addition, supplier lead times lengthened further due to material shortages and shipping delays. Looking ahead, sentiment was notably upbeat, with 12-month activity expectations at their highest since January 2022, reflecting optimism over market conditions and new product plans.
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Austria Manufacturing PMI Falls to 7-Month Low
The UniCredit Bank Austria Manufacturing PMI fell to 47.2 in January 2026 from 49.3 in the previous month. It marked the lowest reading since June 2025, as production declined for the first time in four months amid weak international demand. Moreover, new orders fell for a second straight month at the fastest pace since June 2025, driven mainly by a sharp fall in export demand, pulling order books lower after a brief improvement in December. At the same time, employment continued to fall, with job cuts accelerating as firms operated below capacity. On the pricing front, input costs rose at one of the fastest rates in nearly three years, driven by higher energy and metal prices. In contrast, output prices fell for the ninth consecutive month amid intense competitive pressure, squeezing margins. Looking ahead, manufacturers remained cautiously optimistic about future production, though confidence eased slightly from December’s multi-year high.
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The UniCredit Bank Austria Manufacturing PMI slipped to 49.3 in December 2025 from 50.4 in November, falling back below the neutral threshold after briefly expanding for the first time in over three years. New orders fell at the fastest pace in three months, slowing output growth to a marginal rate, while weaker export demand weighed on overall year-end activity. In addition, employment fell for the 32nd month, though job losses slowed to their weakest since mid-2023, aided by the first modest rise in backlogs since May 2022. On the pricing front, input cost inflation remained low despite supplier delays reaching a three-year high, while manufacturers cut output prices for the eighth consecutive month amid strong competition. Looking ahead, Austrian manufacturers remained optimistic about production prospects in 2026, with expectations reaching their highest level since early 2022.
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