February
KOF Economic Barometer: Third Increase in a Row – Sentiment before the Spread of Coronavirus in Italy
The KOF Economic Barometer rose slightly in February. With the third increase in a row, it now lingers just above its long-term average. Accordingly, clearly positive growth rates would be expected for the Swiss economy in the near future. However, this is based on the sentiment before the outbreak of the coronavirus in northern Italy.
One Company in Three Operating in the Euro Area Reports Worse Competitiveness
The business situation of Swiss companies improved slightly in January. In the manufacturing sector the indicator did not fall any further after 13 consecutive declines. Five years after the Swiss franc’s exchange-rate floor was abolished, however, companies in this sector are still complaining about poorer competitiveness in the euro area. These were the findings of a special survey on Swiss monetary policy. Assessments of negative interest rates reveal considerable differences between sectors.
KOF Employment Indicator: Stronger Increase in Staffing Levels at Service Companies
The outlook for the Swiss labour market has improved: the KOF Employment Indicator has risen from 2.1 to 3.9 points. Various sectors have softened their negative employment forecasts since the last quarter of 2019. In addition, growth in job creation is expected in some service sectors.