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 […]
Swiss exports weakest in 5 years
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 […]
Early-onset colorectal cancer on the rise in Switzerland
Colorectal cancer among younger people in rising across the world. A new study published this week shows Switzerland is no exception. About seven in 100,000 people under 50 are diagnosed annually. and the trend is moving in the wrong direction. The study by researchers at the University of Geneva and Geneva’s University Hospital analysed nearly […]
Swiss commission backs construction of new nuclear power plants
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 […]
Swiss wages surge ahead of inflation
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 […]
Swiss crackdown on forever chemicals faces resistance from farmers
Switzerland’s federal government is stepping up efforts to tackle contamination from PFAS—so-called forever chemicals—but is meeting resistance from cantons and parliament. According to reporting by SRF, officials plan to issue a directive requiring cantons to test for PFAS in food and impose sales bans on contaminated meat and eggs. The move follows cases in places […]
Few Swiss tenants claim rent cuts after rate drops
Few Swiss tenants are asking for lower rent, despite a fall in the mortgage reference rate that entitles many to a reduction. A study by Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB) finds that although nearly half of tenants could have benefited from the most recent cut, only about 12% actually did so. In the canton of Zurich, where […]
Tick bites on the rise in Switzerland
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. […]
Young Swiss liberals launch initiative to curb size of government
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 […]
Young Swiss prefer stability over change and dissent
Young Swiss adults are less inclined to rebel than to seek stability, according to the latest Youth Barometer by the research institute GFS Bern, conducted for the pharmaceutical firm Merck. Based on a survey of 1,009 people aged 16 to 30, the study challenges familiar clichés about a restless, risk-taking youth. Rebellion and other supposed […]
