Austrian newspaper, Kleine Zeitung, reported on Friday that central heating bills for around 100,000 homes, will increase by 65% in Styria, a state in southwestern Austria.

The newspaper cited the Austrian President, Van der Bellen, stating that the country will, "survive the winter" and that he, "with cautious optimism", prospects that Austria's economy will cope, however, heating could be reduced.

The biggest energy suppliers in Austrian southern state Carinthia, Kelag Energie & Warme, told the paper that energy bills will be 20-40% higher in 2022, compared to that in 2021.

Last August, inflation in Austria hit 9.3 percent, and despite government anti-inflationary policies, energy and food prices have continued to rise, according to Statistics Austria.

20,000 Austrians attended a "Prices Down" rally in downtown Vienna, as per OGB. Meanwhile, the city police department refused to share their estimates. Unionists accused the big businesses of taking advantage of private consumers who are struggling to pay skyrocketing energy, heating, as well as food bills.

Protest in Vienna , Austria

"Lower prices!", "Increase pensions by 10 percent", "We don't want millions, we want to eat, warm ourselves, live!"

Demonstrators are protesting because of inflation and rising energy prices pic.twitter.com/hgFQCDVH7X

— Спринтер (@Sprinter88000) September 17, 2022

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Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the US and the EU have multiplied punitive measures to isolate Russia by targeting its banking system and freezing the assets of its leaders and its industries.

Many of the consequences, such as higher gas, electricity, and food prices, have already occurred or will occur. Meanwhile, western citizens are bearing the brunt of the sanctions on Russia, as gas prices are rising in a suffocating manner.

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