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Financial Situation and Consumption

Financial situation & consumption provides valuable insights into the financial circumstances and consumption behaviour of the population in Austria. The data show, for example, how affordable home ownership is or which expenditures households have to cover with their income. On the basis of these results, the economy, politics, public administration and research can make data-based decisions.

Financial situation & consumption is part of the Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS), the most comprehensive survey in the euro area on the financial investment and consumption behaviour of private households and, in Austria, also the most important source in this field. The project in Austria is carried out by the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian National Bank, OeNB) in close cooperation with the other national central banks of the Eurosystem and the European Central Bank (ECB). Statistik Austria was commissioned by the OeNB to conduct the survey.

What is the legal basis of the survey?

We collect data in accordance with the strict provisions of the Austrian Federal Statistics Act 2000 (in German only). A guideline of the European Central Bank (ECB) sets out the requirements for the survey. It is intended to ensure that statistical data are collected in a consistent and comparable manner throughout the EU.

How are your data protected?

All information is subject to absolute statistical confidentiality, data protection in accordance with the Federal Statistics Act and the relevant provisions of the Data Protection Act (in German only). Personal information is used only for statistical purposes and is not passed on to any other body. Name and address are only required for contact purposes, are stored separately from the responses in a database and are deleted after completion of the survey. In addition, individual persons' data are never analyzed in the evaluation – only larger groups of persons are examined, for example retired women, tenants, families with children. Individual responses are therefore no longer identifiable in the results.

You can find detailed information on the protection of your data here:

Is the survey mandatory by law?

Participation in Financial Situation & Consumption is voluntary. As a token of appreciation, participating households receive a small gift for their efforts. A high participation rate in the survey is important in order to analyze financial investment and consumption decisions of different income, occupation and age groups and to identify the effects of economic policy decisions or institutional changes.

How is one selected for the survey?

A survey of all persons in Austria is not possible for reasons of time and cost. Therefore, a selection of households is made that should represent the entire population living in Austria as accurately as possible. The selection of households is random by means of drawing addresses from the Central Register of Residents (Zentrales Melderegister, ZMR). Each of these households represents thousands of others in Austria.

By participating, you contribute to high data quality and actively help shape the future of people in Austria!

How does the survey work?

The survey will take place from October 2025. In the selected households, all household members aged 16 and over will be asked about their personal living situation. The person who is most familiar with the household’s finances completes the household questionnaire.

Part of the sample will be interviewed in person by our interviewers, while another part can participate online. If preferred, the survey can also be conducted by telephone.

After full participation, your household will receive a financial token of appreciation.

How should I prepare?

We will ask you about your financial situation, challenges in this area and how you invest your money. We also collect information on your expenditures, for example how much your household spends on housing or holidays and travel. You do not need to prepare in advance. However, some questions may be easier to answer if you have documents about your dwelling and your income at hand.

If your household has been selected for the Financial Situation & Consumption survey, you will first receive a letter with the necessary information. This letter will also indicate whether your household is invited to participate in person or online. If you would prefer a different mode of participation, please let us know.

Your interview takes place in person: An interviewer will contact you and arrange an appointment for the interview. The interviewer will come to your home at the agreed appointment and complete the questionnaire on a laptop with each individual household member (aged 16 and over). The interviewers employed by Statistics Austria carry an identification card which guarantees that they are authorized to conduct the interviews. 

If a household member is not at home, a new appointment will be made. If someone is unable to answer themselves due to illness, disability or language difficulties, the person who is most knowledgeable about the household's finances can provide information. In exceptional cases, this can also be a person who does not live at the address themselves.

Your household is participating in the online survey: If you have been selected for an online survey, you have received an invitation letter in advance with all the important information and the access data (valid for all household members). You can participate in the survey independently on a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Click here to access the online survey.

Have you lost your personal access data for the online survey?

Please contact us, we will be happy to assist you! 

Your household will be contacted by telephone?

You want to be sure that the call really is from Statistics Austria? Ask for your personal code (FID), you will find it in the letter sent to you in advance at the top right.

Is there a thank you for participating?

After completion of all questionnaires, your household will receive a shopping voucher. You can redeem this voucher at many shops and restaurants. Alternatively, you can opt for a donation: Statistics Austria will forward the amount as a donation to the "Alpine Moors" nature conservation project on behalf of your participation. If you would like to learn more about the nature conservation project of Österreichische Bundesforste AG (Austrian Federal Forests), you can find detailed information in the project description.

Where are the results published?

The most recent results of the Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS) are published by the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) on a dedicated project website: www.hfcs.at

They are also used for many other research projects, studies and reports.

What questions are asked?

Financial Situation & Consumption collects information on the financial situation of participating households, what expenditures you have, how you invest your money or how your income has developed. You can answer some of these questions more easily by preparing documents in advance, for example on your dwelling and your income.

Please note that the questionnaire below is only a sample questionnaire and completing it in paper form is not envisaged.

Information folder: Financial Situation & Consumption – FAQ

Ihre Befragung findet persönlich statt?
Ein:e Interviewer:in wird sich bei Ihnen melden und mit Ihnen einen Termin vereinbaren. Sie haben Fragen?
Phone: +43 1 711 28-8973
hfcs-office@statistik.gv.at Montag–Freitag, 09:00–18:00, werktags
Ihre Befragung findet online statt?
Onlineteilnahme oder Terminvereinbarung für telefonische Teilnahme Phone: +43 1 711 28-7700
hfcs-online@statistik.gv.at Montag–Freitag, 09:00–17:00, werktags
Last updated on 2025-11-06.