Iran war clouds the outlook for industry
„The UniCredit Bank Austria Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 52.4 points in March, reaching its highest level in almost four years. The indicator thus signals a consolidation of the ongoing recovery“, says UniCredit Bank Austria Chief Economist Stefan Bruckbauer, adding: “Hopefully, this positive development will not prove to be the calm before the storm. The effects of the war in the Middle East were already being felt in March in the form of supply chain disruptions and sharp cost increases for Austrian businesses.”
- The UniCredit Bank Austria Purchasing Managers’ Index improved to 52.4 points in March, the highest level since May 2022
- More new orders from home and abroad led to a further expansion of production
- The pace of job cuts in domestic industry slowed in March
- Margins deteriorated significantly due to the sharpest rise in costs in three and a half years
- Higher production demands and supply concerns led to an increase in purchase volumes for the first time since June 2022
- Disruption to supply chains caused by the war in the Middle East led to a drastic lengthening of delivery times
- A sharp deterioration in sentiment, but still a hint of optimism: business expectations over the coming year fell to 57.7 points in March
UniCredit Bank Austria Purchasing Managers' Index
as of 27 March, 2026.
About UniCredit Bank Austria Purchasing Managers' Index
The UniCredit Bank Austria Purchasing Managers' Index offers an evaluation of the economic situation of Austrian industry by selected purchasing managers.
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