In 2020, wine consumption is Switzerland slumped by 6%. However, consumption of locally produced wine rose 0.3%. The biggest drop was in imported white wine (-14%), followed by imported red wine (-8%). Consumption of Swiss red wine (+0.5%) rose the most followed by Swiss white wines (+0.2%). Big drivers of falling wine consumption were the […]
Renters charged fees to view apartments in Geneva
Some agencies in Geneva are exploiting the city’s tight property market by charging people money just to view apartments, according to a report by RTS. A practice described as parasitic by ASLOCA, a rental association, involves an agency contacting those who have placed adverts for vacant apartments and offering them their services. The agency promises […]
Surfing comes to the Swiss Alps
In landlocked Switzerland there is no access to the sea and no waves. Until now. A surfer decided to bring waves to Switzerland and created Alaïa Bay wave garden near Sion in the Swiss canton of Valais not far from Verbier and other action Swiss towns. The operation is so new it doesn’t yet show […]
Real Swiss salaries up most in 5 years
On 30 April 2021, Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office released salary data for 2020 which showed a 1.5% rise in real salaries compared to 2019. In 2020, a 0.8% rise in nominal salaries was boosted by inflation of -0.7% bringing the total increase in the real average Swiss salary to 1.5%. The last time salaries rose […]
Swiss referendum against gay marriage passes signature hurdle
This week, Switzerland’s federal government announced that an application for an optional referendum against gay marriage had collected enough valid signatures to clear the way for a vote on the subject. On 18 December 2020, Switzerland’s upper house voted in favour of gay marriage after it was endorsed by a parliamentary majority, clearing the way […]
Basel offers beggars one-way tickets anywhere in Europe
The city of Basel is offering beggars travel vouchers to any destination in Europe in exchange for agreeing not to return. The city’s immigration service is offering rail vouchers and CHF 20 to any beggar requesting it, according to 20 Minutes. To get the voucher beggars must sign a written contract promising not to return […]
Old Swiss money no longer valid from Friday
From Friday 30 April 2021, old Swiss bank notes will no longer be legal tender. This means they can no longer be used as a valid means of payment. The notes affected are old 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 1,000 Swiss franc notes from the eight series pictured above. From 30 April 2021, the […]
Only 36% of Swiss own their homes
Recently published statistics show that 36% of homes are owned by those who live in them, a rate that falls to 12% in municipalities with more than 100,000 residents. Swiss municipalities with the highest rates of home ownership (37%) have between 10,000 and 15,000 residents, a rate exceeding the smallest municipalities of less than 10,000 […]
Nearly 7% of Swiss primary school children repeat a year
Schools around the world hold struggling pupils back to give them a second chance to master knowledge. Switzerland is no exception. Recent data show that 6.7% of primary school pupils repeated a year during their years at primary school (2012-2018) with significant differences between gender and canton. In Switzerland, education is run by the nation’s […]
Health insurers encouraged to use reserves to cut or repay premiums
In 2020, total reserves held by Swiss health insurance companies reached CHF 11.3 billion, a level equivalent to 203% of the minimum required, according to RTS. Excess reserves jumped recently after the government cut the minimum reserve level by one third, part of a move designed to encourage health insurers to align premiums more closely […]
