Category: Austrian News

Nothing has been finalized yet. On Thursday, coalition negotiators Hubert Fuchs (FPÖ) and August Wöginger did not reveal any details of their 6.39 billion euro savings package. At least Fuchs said, “The fees for passports and driving licenses have not been increased since 2011; we will make up for that.” An annual inflation increase in federal fees is actually planned, but the ÖVP finance ministers of recent years have always generously refrained from doing so. The extent to which they have followed suit has not yet been revealed. However, if…

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A turnaround is imminent that could fundamentally change the previous winter weather. What scenarios await us now?High Beate on the home straightHigh Beate has settled over Europe, shaping the weather for days. The stable high-pressure conditions will bring mostly sunshine again starting tomorrow, but also icy temperatures and strong winds will make many places feel cold. Especially in the morning hours, temperatures often reach lows well below freezing. While many enjoy the clear days, the frosty nights and slippery roads are challenging. January 25 is the decisive dateThe weather forecasts…

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The time has finally come: On Wednesday, 15 January 2025, Vienna will get a little snow, and the federal capital could turn white here and there. After so-called “industrial snow” has already visited Vienna this year and turned parts of the city white, it is now real snow that many Viennese can look forward to on Wednesday, 14 January 2025. As a map from “GeoSphere Austria” shows, the west of the capital, in particular, could get a few centimetres. The Viennese can expect snow, especially in the morningAs the meteorologists…

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Real estate consultancy EHL expects that a significantly lower supply of new rental apartments will likely lead to further rent increases this year, according to a press release on Monday. The number of completed rental apartments was already down by a quarter year-on-year in 2024, and the trend is likely to intensify significantly again this year. In contrast, falling interest rates lead to cheaper loans and boost condominium demand. In 2024, around 4,200 rental apartments across Austria were newly completed; for 2025, EHL expects only 1,800 new apartments. “This development…

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The 2024 vignette is valid until 31 January 2025, whether as a sticker or digitally. The new sea-green vignette is valid immediately after purchase. There are a few important things to note with digital vignettes.Different validity dateAnyone who wants to order the new digital vignette online and use it from 1 February must do so by Tuesday, 14 January. The ordered vignette is only valid from the 18th day after the online purchase. The reason for this is the consumer protection period, which applies to all customers making online purchases…

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The City of Vienna—with around 67,000 employees—is responding to demographic change and the associated shortage of skilled workers with a comprehensive personnel offensive. Since March 2023, measures such as increased advertising and job fairs have been taken to attract new employees in a targeted manner. These initiatives led to a 40 percent increase in applications in 2023, as reported by ORF. An average of around 7,900 applications were received for around 500 advertised positions each month.In 2023, 6,052 people joined the municipal service, exceeding the number of people leaving. The…

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Freezing temperatures will follow stormy nights. “Increased cold temperatures are to be expected,” says GeoSphere. The thermometer is expected to show minus 15 degrees in some places at the weekend, at least in the morning.Saturday, 11 January, will remain relatively “mild” during the day. Between Flachgau and central Burgenland, dense fields of cloud will continue to gather. “These will also bring a few snowflakes in the form of showers on the northern flanks of the mountains. In the west and south, it will be sunny and free of precipitation all…

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Thursday begins with a few clouds. While the sun will prevail at times in the north, it will remain cloudy in the south, and it will rain in phases. A cold front will arrive in the west in the evening, and it will rain again in Tyrol and Vorarlberg towards the evening. The wind will blow weakly to moderately in the mountains, briskly from southerly directions. Early temperatures are minus 3 to plus 7 degrees, and daytime highs are 5 to 13 degrees. The night gets stormyThe cold front moves…

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Average prices for cheap food have risen continuously since 2021, and the situation will unlikely ease in 2025. Inflation puts a strain on Viennese householdsSince the wave of inflation began in September 2021, prices for affordable food have risen by an average of 53%. According to the Chamber of Labor, a shopping basket that cost 51 euros back then now costs almost 78 euros. “Cheap” food has become 53 percent more expensive since 2021Of the 40 cheapest food and cleaning products tested, only liquid laundry detergent and cucumbers have become…

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