Although spending increased both on the month and on the year, it remains dependent on trends on the labour market and focused on meeting the basic needs, Raiffeisenbank Austria (RBA) analysts said.
On the other hand, the growth year-on-year was also a result of the higher number of tourist arrivals, both domestic and foreign.
RBA analysts predict a 0.2% growth rate year-on-year. Retail trade is about 20% lower than in 2008, the last year before the recession, they said, adding that high consumer pessimism and a poor outlook on progress on the labour market would continue to negatively affect consumption.