A group of Swiss fruit and vegetable producers has filed a complaint with the country’s competition watchdog, accusing Coop, one of Switzerland’s two dominant supermarket chains, of abusing its market power. The farmers say that a new rebate system imposed by Coop will significantly reduce their revenues. In early April, Coop introduced what it calls […]
The reasons for Switzerland’s recent air pollution
Much of Switzerland awoke last Sunday beneath a blanket of smog. The skies have since cleared somewhat, but the air remains far from pristine. The sun’s dim appearance, filtered through a whitish haze, was not initially due to Saharan dust, as many might have assumed. Instead, the culprit was smoke from wildfires that have plagued […]
Switzerland faces growing drought risks
Climate-related risks in Switzerland are rising, driven by intensifying summer droughts and higher temperatures. That is the stark warning from a new report published on Thursday by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), which assesses the evolving threats posed by climate change in the country through to 2060. Based on scientific literature and consultations […]
Swiss rent reference rate stays put
Switzerland’s benchmark mortgage reference rate, a key figure used to determine rents under existing leases, remained unchanged at 1.5% in June, according to the latest update from the Federal Housing Office (FHO), published on 2 June 2025. The rate was last cut by 25 basis points in March 2025, prompting a wave of rent reduction […]
Women much more likely to take obesity medication in Switzerland
Weight-loss injections are taking off in Switzerland. But despite obesity being more prevalent among men, it is women who are far more likely to be prescribed them. A newly published report from the Swiss Health Observatory (Obsan), part of the national healthcare atlas, reveals that demand for drugs such as Wegovy—produced by Danish firm Novo […]
Switzerland to ban single-use e-cigarettes
On 4 June 2025, Switzerland’s upper house voted to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, known as vapes, marking a rare show of regulatory boldness in a country with weak laws against smoking. By 19 votes to 11, the Council of States approved a motion introduced by Green Party MP Christophe Clivaz that was already […]
UBS pushes back against government plan to make it safer
Switzerland’s largest bank has slammed a government plan designed to prevent a repeat of the Credit Suisse collapse—plans that could force UBS to hold billions more in capital. The news was reported by SRF and Bloomberg. This week, Switzerland’s Federal Council unveiled a package of measures aimed at reducing the systemic risks posed by the […]
Swiss Statistics Office to shed staff and cut output
Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office (FSO) is set to scale back its operations, trimming both its workforce and the range of data it produces, as it contends with mounting budget constraints, reported RTS. The FSO will cut the equivalent of around 40 full-time positions over the coming years, in a move expected to save CHF 13 […]
Slow down in premium hikes in 2026, says federal health authority
Swiss health insurance premiums are set to rise again in 2026—but perhaps at a more moderate pace than in recent years, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced this week. After two years of steep increases, federal health officials are cautiously forecasting a slowdown. FOPH was nonetheless reluctant to over promise, reported RTS. In […]
Swiss union slams federal attack on minimum wages
Switzerland’s sometimes delicate balance between federal authority and cantonal autonomy is once again under strain. The Swiss Trade Union Federation (USS) has issued a stark warning: if the federal parliament proceeds with draft legislation that would curtail cantonal minimum wage laws, it will resist the measure with all available means, reported RTS. The controversy stems […]
