GKI data suggest that the outlook for production improved for industrial companies, however, their assessment of order stock, including that of export orders, worsened. Construction companies also gave a more negative assessment of output in the previous period and order stock, GKI said.

According to GKI, however, companies in the trade and service sectors were slightly more optimistic. Trade companies said their sales position worsened and inventories were up but they gave a more positive assessment of prospective orders, GKI said.

GKI’s report reveals that householdsʼ assessment of their own financial position improved but fewer said they would be able to put away savings, while fewer people feared unemployment.

The seasonally-adjusted GKI-Erste index is supported through European Union funding.