Austria unveils new relief package to combat high inflation
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Loading... - Brian Clarke
- 26 May 2023
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The Austrian government has unveiled a fresh relief package valued at 500 million euros ($542 million) to assist vulnerable citizens in mitigating the impact of surging inflation. Emphasizing the importance of supporting families with children, the government has highlighted that the aid package will particularly benefit those individuals receiving unemployment benefits and social assistance.
They will receive an additional monthly payment of 60 euros per child until the culmination of 2024. Austrian broadcaster ORF has specified that this monthly allowance also extends to single parents earning less than 2,000 euros per month. During a press conference on Wednesday, Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch stressed that families with children, especially single mothers, bear the brunt of the inflationary pressures.
Simultaneously, Statistics Austria revealed on Wednesday that inflation in Austria climbed from 9.2 percent in March to 9.7 percent in April. This increase can be attributed to persistent price hikes in essential areas such as food, rent, and household energy. Despite the decrease in energy prices over the past few months, Austria's inflation rate has remained stubbornly high. Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, reported that Austria's annual inflation rate reached 9.6 percent in April, surpassing the bloc's average of 7 percent.
