News & Events

The KOF Economic Barometer falls again in May after a rise in the previous month. This year it has only managed to stay very slightly above its medium-term average. Although the Swiss economy is robust, it is not showing much vigour beyond that.

Following a record winter, Swiss tourism will continue to grow this summer. KOF expects overnight stays to increase by 0.4 per cent. The main reasons for this are the brighter outlook for the global economy, rising demand from overseas markets, and stable domestic demand. While the trend in the numbers of guests coming from Europe remains subdued, visitors from the United States and China in particular are providing a boost.

KOF and the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) newspaper surveyed economists at Swiss universities about the upcoming vote on the Swiss healthcare system on 9 June this year and received 113 responses. Two-thirds of survey respondents rejected the premium-reduction initiative. Although economists were less unanimous on the cost-capping initiative, a small majority rejected this as well.

The annual report highlights the most important projects and publications of 2023. As the KOF celebrated its 85th anniversary last year, the review goes beyond 2023.

The Leading Global Barometer rises for the second month in a row, but only partially compensating for the losses in February and March. The Coincident Barometer increases marginally this month, remaining within the narrow range of 93 to 94 points observed since February.