In Austria, economic output fell in the first half of 2020 due to the measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. A decline of 2.4 percent compared to the previous period in the first quarter was followed by a contraction of 10.7 percent in the second quarter (seasonally adjusted according to Eurostat standard). Although companies continue to assess the current situation unfavourably in surveys, expectation indicators in particular have improved. Economic risks have recently been pointing more strongly downwards again due to the recent increase in the number of infections.