Author: switzerlandtimes.ch

Switzerland’s consumer price index (CPI) fell by 0.1% in January 2025. Across 12 months inflation was +0.4%, reported the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). Annual inflation at the end of January 2025 is the lowest it has been since April 2021 when it was +0.3%. While many nations, such as the UK and the US, are struggling to rein in inflation, Switzerland is going against the grain. In the US annual inflation rose to 3% at the end of January 2025 and in the UK it reached 3.9%, the highest it has been in 10 months. Even in Japan, where inflation…

A recently published report shows that only a tiny percentage of rascist incidents affecting Muslims in Switzerland are reported. Around a third (35%) of Switzerland’s 450,000 Muslims report being victims of racism. However, only around 60 people a year report such incidents to Switzerland’s official racism reporting centres. Marianne Helfer, head of the Federal Office for Combating Racism, the organisation responsible for the report, said hostile attitudes towards Muslims are relatively high in Switzerland compared to those against other minorities. According to another survey by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), hostility towards muslims is the most widespread form of hostility…

In November 2024, 52.7% of voters rejected a federal government plan to expand key sections of Switzerland’s motorway network. Environmental issues associated with road traffic and the cost (CHF 5.3 billion) were common reasons given by those rejecting the proposal. This has left the government with no path to solve the country’s infrastructure bottlenecks. This week it announced a proposal to combine investment in roads with investment in rail infrastructure, which is also overloaded, reported RTS. In addition, Transport Minister Albert Rösti said he will get ETH Zurich to advise on the proposal in the hope that external expert advice…

According to a study by Swissmedic, there are deficiencies in the disinfection, sterilisation, packaging and storage of medical products in Swiss hospitals. The recently published report based on a study done in 2023 by Swissmedic shows that almost all of the 25 Swiss hospitals inspected have deficiencies in the disinfection, sterilisation, packaging and storage of medical products. In addition, the problem is becoming worse. An earlier study done in 2021 and 2022 found fewer deficiencies. According to Swissmedic there is a lack of awareness of hygiene protocols. 91% of all inspections showed deficiencies, according to the study. The same figure…

The new Federal Council jet does not fit into the existing federal hangar at Bern-Belp airport near Bern because the plane is too big, reported RTS. The Bombardier Global 7500 does not fit into the existing building in Bern-Belp due to its size and will probably be housed at the Payerne military airbase in Vaud for the next two years while a new hangar is created. The government said that due to the requirements of the new state aircraft, it was clear from the outset that work would be required in Bern-Belp to house it. This new hangar is intended…

In Switzerland, there is resistance to EU deals on both the left and right. On the right concern tends to be focused on loss of self determination, cultural erosion and overcrowding. On the left, key sticking points are loss of trade protection and wage dumping. This week, progress was made on wage protection, reported RTS. The Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), the main party on the right, and Switzerland’s largest party, has made it clear that it is strongly opposed to any deal with the EU. This means any majority will need to include support from the left in addition to…

An OECD study published this week shows the level of literacy, numeracy and problem solving among the adult population across 31 OECD nations. Switzerland, scores above average on all three measures with significant differences across gender and educational backgrounds. These adult aptitude tests run by the OECD are known colloquially as adult PISA scores. In Switzerland, adults aged 16-65 scored, on average, 266 points in literacy (OECD average 260), 276 points in numeracy (OECD average 263), and 257 points in adaptive problem solving (OECD average 251). Switzerland was ranked 7th, 6th and 8th respectively across these three measures. Finland, Japan, Sweden, Norway and Netherlands…

On 21 March 2025, Switzerland’s parliament approved an historic trade deal with India. The deal will give Swiss businesses an advantage over EU, US and UK competitors whose governments have yet to reach trade deals with India. The deal was supported by 131 versus 22 parliamentary votes. The main opposition came from Socialist Party members keen to see investments associated with social and environmental damage excluded from any agreement. The successful vote, which accepted a deal covering nearly 95% of Switzerland’s exports to India, is the result of 16 years of negotiations. The agreement, which was signed a year ago,…

The number of medical professionals in Switzerland rose by 3.7% in 2024. However, the proportion of foreign doctors working in the country continues to increase, reaching 41.3% of all doctors in 2024. Relying so heavily on foreign medical professionals is risky, according to a representative of a medical association who spoke to SRF. In 2003, 17% of doctors in Switzerland were foreign. By 2024, 21 years later, this figure had more than doubled to over 41%, significantly exceeding the OECD average of 19%. Most of these professionals come from Germany (49%), Italy (10%), France (7%), and Austria (6%). These four…

All-electric vehicle registrations as a percentage of the total fell in Switzerland in 2024, according to recent data from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). So did the total number. After years of strong growth, all-electric vehicles as a percentage of new vehicle registrations fell in 2024. For passenger cars the percentage fell from 20.7% in 2023 to 19.0% in 2024. For goods vehicles the same figure fell from 12.2% to 8.6%. There were also fewer new all-electric car registrations in 2024. Across the year 46,500 new electric vehicles were registered, 6,000 fewer than in 2023. The shift was driven by…