KOF Zurich

KOF Zurich

KOF Swiss Economic Institute defines itself as one of the leading economic “think tanks” in Switzerland. In this prospect, KOF (acronym for the German word "Konjunkturforschungsstelle", which means business cycle research institute) aims to play two roles, one as a mediator between a broader public (politics, society) and the research community, and one as a leading platform for economists, especially within Switzerland.

Articles by KOF Zurich

KOF Economic Barometer: Strongest monthly plunge since 2015

KOF Economic Barometer, March 2020

The reading of the KOF Economic Barometer dropped drastically in March and is now with 92.9 well below its long-​term average. Accordingly, the Swiss economy can be expected to see a marked decline in growth rates in the near future. This plunge of the Barometer reflects the first economic consequences of the accelerated spread of the Coronavirus.

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KOF Economic Barometer: Stabilization at a low level

KOF Economic Barometer, October 2019

The KOF Economic Barometer has halted its downward movement, at least for the time being. At 94.7 points, however, the barometer is still well below its long-​term average. The Swiss economy is therefore likely to grow with below-​average rates in the upcoming months.

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KOF Economic Barometer: Upswing Sets a More Leisurely Pace

KOF Economic Barometer, October 2018

In August 2018, the KOF Economic Barometer fell slightly by 1.4 points to a new reading of 100.3. It thus now pints to a level that is only marginally above its long-term average. Accordingly, in the near future Swiss growth should hover around its average over the last ten years.

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KOF Economic Barometer: Falling

In August 2018, the KOF Economic Barometer fell slightly by 1.4 points to a new reading of 100.3. It thus now pints to a level that is only marginally above its long-term average. Accordingly, in the near future Swiss growth should hover around its average over the last ten years.

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KOF Economic Barometer, July: Remains Practically Unchanged

KOF Economic Barometer, July 2018

The KOF Economic Barometer only slightly moved in July. Compared to its June value, it decreased by 0.2 to 101.1 points. The current Barometer value still stands slightly above the long-term average of 100 points; it thus indicates a slightly above-average economic development in Switzerland in the coming months.

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KOF Economic Barometer, June: Economic Outlook Improves Slightly

KOF Economic Barometer, June 2018

The KOF Economic Barometer rose again in June for the first time in three months. It increased by 1.7 points to 101.7 points, stopping its downward tendency in spring. The current Barometer value is now slightly above the long-term average of 100.0. Thus, the KOF Economic Barometer indicates a slightly above-average economic development in Switzerland. The tailwind for the Swiss economy is no longer as strong as during winter.

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KOF Economic Barometer: Economic Outlook Remains Stable

KOF Economic Barometer, April 2018

The KOF Economic Barometer for April points to an almost stable economic development. It has risen minimally, by 0.2 points, to 105.3 points. Although the Barometer currently does not reach the positive values seen at the turn of the year 2017/2018, the current value is clearly above long-term average. The Swiss economic outlook remains favourable.

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KOF Economic Barometer is Falling

KOF Economic Barometer, March 2018

In March 2018, the KOF Economic Barometer fell by 2.4 points to a new reading of 106.0. Notwithstanding this decline, the present position is still on a level clearly above its long-term average. This indicates that in the near future the Swiss economy should continue to grow at rates above average.

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KOF Economic Barometer Stabilises at a High Level

KOF Economic Barometer, February 2018

In February 2018, the KOF Economic Barometer rose by 0.4 points to a new reading of 108.0. After the previous month’s decline, it thus stabilised its position on a level clearly above its long-term average. This indicates that in the near future the Swiss economy should continue to grow at rates above average.

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KOF Economic Barometer: Easing

KOF Economic Barometer, January 2018

In January, the KOF Economic Barometer does not continue its upward tendency, which started in September 2017, but has declined. However, despite the decline, the indicator remains well above its long-term average. It still indicates a more dynamic economic development than in mid-2017. The recovery of the Swiss economy is thus likely to continue, albeit with slightly less momentum than indicated in the past few months.

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KOF Economic Barometer: Swiss Economy Gains Pace

KOF Economic Barometer, November 2017

The KOF Economic Barometer continued its upward tendency in November. It rose by 0.5 points to 110.3 points (after revised 109.8 in October). This is the third consecutive increase of the indicator. The Swiss economy continues to gain momentum towards the end of the year.

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KOF Economic Barometer: Outlook for the Swiss Economy Remains Favourable

KOF Economic Barometer, September 2017

In September 2017, the KOF Economic Barometer increases by 1.6 points. It thus partially reverses its previous month’s decline. With a new reading of 105.8, the Barometer still points to a level clearly above its long-term average. This indicates that the outlook remains favourable – the Swiss economy should continue to grow at above average rates in the near future.

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KOF Economic Barometer Falls

KOF Economic Barometer, August 2017

In August 2017, the KOF Economic Barometer fell by 3.9 points. It thus more than reversed its previous month’s climb. With a new reading of 104.1, however, it still points to a level clearly above its long-term average. This indicates that in the near future the Swiss economy should continue to grow at above average rates.

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KOF Economic Barometer May: Decreases Substantially

KOF Economic Barometer, May 2017

In May 2017, the KOF Economic Barometer fell by 4.7 points (from revised 106.3 in April) to a new standing of 101.6. After a slight downward correction in the last month, the indicator’s value decreased substantially this month. However, with a standing slightly above its long-term average, the Barometer is signalling solid growth rates for the Swiss economy around its long-term average.

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KOF Economic Barometer April: Is Easing

KOF Economic Barometer, April 2017

In April, the KOF Economic Barometer does not continue its upward tendency, which started at the beginning of 2017, but has declined slightly. However, despite the decline, the indicator is still well above its long-term average. It still indicates a more dynamic economic development than at the beginning of 2017. The recovery of the Swiss economy is likely to continue, albeit with a little less momentum than indicated in the past two months.

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KOF Economic Barometer February: Continues to Rise

KOF Economic Barometer, February 2017

In March 2017, the KOF Economic Barometer rose by 0.7 points to a new reading of 107.6. It thus reinforces its previous month’s climb to a level clearly above its long-term average. This indicates that the Swiss economy should grow at above average rates in the near future.

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KOF Economic Barometer: Soft Drop

KOF Economic Barometer January 2017

The KOF Economic Barometer dropped slightly in January 2017. Compared to its December 2016 value it is now standing at 101.7 points. The standing at a level slightly above the long-term average indicates stable perspectives for the Swiss economy in the near future.

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Switzerland KOF Economic Barometer December: Unchanged

KOF Economic Barometer December 2016

In December 2016, the KOF Economic Barometer stayed at its previous month’s reading of 102.2. The currently observable sideward trend, at a level slightly above the long-term average, indicates that the Swiss economy should grow at rates close to its long-term average in the near future.

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KOF Economic Barometer October: Index is Climbing

KOF Economic Barometer October 2016

KOF Economic Barometer rose by 3.1 points (from revised 101.6 in September) to 104.7. It thus recovered from its recent summer trough of below the 100 points and stands as high as for the last time in January 2014. Accordingly, the outlook for the Swiss suggests above potential short-term growth rates.

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KOF Economic Barometer September: Slight Recovery

KOF Economic Barometer September 2016

The KOF Economic Barometer, with a current reading of 101.3, increased 1.6 points in September 2016 (from revised 99.7 in August). Therefore, the Economic Barometer recovered from its fall below the 100 points level that was witnessed last month and climbs just above its long-term average. The outlook for the Swiss economy remains stable, consistent … Continue reading »

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KOF Economic Barometer August: A Dip below the 100 Points Level

The KOF Economic Barometer, with a current reading of 99.8, showed a drop of 3.7 points in August 2016 (from revised 103.5 in July). The Barometer fell just below its long-term average for the first time since December 2015. The outlook for the Swiss economy is less upbeat than one month ago, returning to its long-term average path.

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KOF Economic Barometer July: Prospects for the Swiss Economy Remain Favourable

The KOF Economic Barometer has only changed little and reached a value of 102.7 in July. In June, and therefore before the referendum in the United Kingdom about its membership in the EU, the KOF Economic Barometer stood at a value of 102.6 (revised from 102.4). Thus the Barometer has been standing above the historical average since February this year. Despite the outcome of the vote in the United Kingdom and various other geopolitical risks, the outlook for the Swiss economy remains stable.

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