Austria to maintain prosperity in 2007.

Survey results indicate that a third of all Austrian consumers feel the 2007 local economy will be better than 2006. Respondents who felt the economy would be worse in 2007 than 2006 totaled 15 percent of those interviewed. A large percentage of interviewees-48 percent-said that they anticipated no major change in Austria's economy in 2007.

The survey was conducted by Bank Austria Creditanstalt Pressestelle (BA-CA) (Vienna) and the results were distributed via a BA-CA press release on January 4, 2007.

A BA-CA analyst quoted in the press release said that the survey results indicated "moderate optimism" in regard to 2007 economic prospects by the country's consumers. Quoting other BA-CA economists, the press release said that private consumption would support economic growth in 2007. The study also concluded that there was a conspicuous age difference in the results. "Young Austrians reckon their financial circumstances will improve 2007, older Austrians expect them to worsen."

BA-CA estimates that economic growth will be 2.4 percent in 2007 compared with 3.2 percent in 2006.

Austrian consumers in general are optimistic about the country's international competitive position. "Austria has benefited more than any other country from the emergence of new democracies in the east. In addition, our main trading partner Germany has recovered, which is also being felt by the population," said a BA-CA economist.

While a majority of consumers polled for the study felt that their own personal financial situation would stay about the same in 2007 (63 percent), optimists did outnumber pessimists 16 percent to 13 percent.