Author: switzerlandtimes.ch

Swiss trade weakened at the start of 2026. Exports fell by 4.2% in the first quarter, compared with the previous three months, to CHF 66.9bn, according to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS). That is their lowest level since late 2021. There were signs of a rebound in March. Seasonally adjusted exports rose by 1% to CHF 22.4bn after a sharp fall in February. In real terms, however, they continued to decline, dropping by 3.4%. The broader picture is weak. Eight of the ten main product groups recorded falling exports. Chemicals and pharmaceuticals—by far the largest category—were…

For newcomers from much of the rest of the world, shopping in Switzerland can come as a surprise. Limited weekend trading and early closing hours have earned the country a nickname among some expatriates: “Shutzerland”. The Federal Council now wants to loosen the rules slightly, reported SRF. It supports allowing shops to open on up to 12 Sundays a year, instead of the current four. The proposal backs a draft law put forward by the Economic Affairs and Taxation Committee of the Council of States. The government describes the change as “moderate”, arguing that it would give cantons more flexibility…

A parliamentary commission narrowly backed allowing the construction of new nuclear power plants in Switzerland. By 13 votes to 12, the Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy endorsed an amendment to the nuclear energy law, reported SRF. The commission’s position aligns with the indirect counter-proposal from the Federal Council and the Council of States to the Stop Blackout initiative, which seeks to lift the current ban on building new nuclear power plants. Since the 2017 Energy Strategy, Switzerland has prohibited new nuclear plants, while allowing existing ones to operate as long as they are safe. A majority of…

Nominal wages in Switzerland rose rise by an average of 1.8% in 2025, with real wages increasing by 1.6%. Swiss purchasing power therefore grew for a second consecutive year. Wage growth picked up noticeably in 2025 and, for the first time in years, more was retained in real terms as inflation remained subdued. According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), nominal wages increased by 1.8% on average, while slowing inflation boosted real gains. This marks the second straight year of rising purchasing power and the strongest increase since 2009. Comparable gains were seen in 2015 and 2020, though last year’s…

The New Retail Culture, the international event promoted by Fashion Link Milano —the  platform bringing together the leading trade shows of the fashion system. The gathering  marked a high-level opportunity to analyze emerging global retail scenarios, bringing  together international buyers, industry professionals, media, and stakeholders for a direct  exchange on the evolving dynamics of consumer behavior and distribution strategies.  At the heart of the discussion was the transformation of retail from a mere point of sale into  a contemporary cultural platform, where product, technology, processes, and lifestyle  converge to create increasingly complex and meaningful experiences. In this context, the  role…

Tick bites are on the rise in Switzerland. Suva, the national accident insurance provider, estimates that nearly 18,000 cases were recorded in 2025, close to the peak seen in 2020 and well above the 9,000 reported annually in the mid-2000s. Between 2020 and 2024 the figure had already climbed to more than 14,000 a year. Under Swiss law, tick bites are classified as accidents, meaning treatment costs are covered by accident insurance. Though often harmless, ticks can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). On average, around eight people a year receive disability pensions as a result…

The youth wing of the Liberal Party (PLR/FDP) has launched a popular initiative to curb the growth of Switzerland’s federal administration, arguing that it has expanded silently, continuously and without restraint, reported RTS. Backed by other centre-right parties, the proposal would tie the growth of federal spending to changes in the median wage, effectively capping the size of government unless incomes rise in tandem. The initiative, dubbed a brake on administration, includes safeguards. Parliament would be able to override the limit by an absolute majority in the event of an emergency, and certain areas—notably the federal institutes of technology—would be…

Switzerland has reduced its domestic greenhouse-gas emissions by 27.3% since 1990, according to the latest figures from the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). Total emissions fell to 40.1m tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2024, about 0.5m tonnes less than a year earlier, and will be reported to the UN climate secretariat. The steepest decline has come from buildings, where emissions are down by 47% over the period, largely reflecting the rapid spread of heat pumps. Industry has also cut emissions substantially, to 8.9m tonnes—around a third below 1990 levels. For the first time, Switzerland has included negative emissions in…

Plans to create a mosque in the village of Siebnen, in the canton of Schwyz, have been shelved after a surge of local opposition. The Albanian-Islamic community behind the project says it is withdrawing for now to avoid further tensions, reported SRF. We do not want to divide the population, Sinan Sadriu, head of the local association, told SRF. The group had hoped to convert the historic Läufferhaus, in the centre of the village, into a place of prayer for local Muslims. Instead, it will seek talks with the municipal authorities to explore alternative locations. The plans prompted a swift…

As Switzerland debates the “No to a 10-million Switzerland” initiative backed by the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), it is worth setting the country’s demographic trajectory in a broader European context. Switzerland’s population has expanded rapidly. Over the past half-century, it has recorded the third-fastest growth rate in western Europe, behind only Luxembourg and Ireland. The population has risen from about 6.3m in 1975 to more than 9m today—Eurostat data. Unlike in many countries, this increase has not been driven primarily by births. Instead, immigration has done most of the work. High wages, plentiful jobs and economic stability have made Switzerland…