Tag Archive: SECO

Switzerland: Still a bright beacon of freedom

2023-02-27

Switzerland’s long-standing and well-deserved reputation as one of the last bastions of individual and financial liberty has been recently vindicated and reaffirmed. It was a much-needed boost of confidence for Swiss citizens like myself who had come to worry over the last years whether the governmental trespasses of our neighboring nations and the way they rule their people might one day come to influence or even corrupt our own system of...

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Swiss Unemployment Continues to Fall

2018-06-16

by Investec

2018-06-16

The number of registered unemployed in Switzerland dropped by 9% in May 2018 to a rate of 2.4%, down from 2.7% in April, according to a report by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The rate in May 2018 was 22% lower than in May 2017.

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Swiss unemployment at lowest in 3.5 years

2018-04-21

by Investec

2018-04-21

Swiss unemployment is at its lowest for 3.5 years, according to the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The last time Swiss unemployment reached March 2018’s level was in October 2014. After reaching a peak of 3.7% in January 2017, the rate had fallen to 2.9% by March 2018. Unemployment has some seasonality however the rate for last March (2.9%) is low even when compared to March 2016 (3.5%) and March 2017 (3.4%).

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Swiss authorities say Uber drivers should be treated as ‘employees’

2018-03-25

by Swissinfo

2018-03-25

For the first time, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has clearly indicated that Uber taxi drivers should be classed as employees rather than self-employed. In an internal statement seen by the 10vor10 programme on Swiss public television, SECO gave the legal opinion that according to the conditions that bind drivers to Uber, they should be regarded as employees rather than independent contractors.

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US trade disputes indirectly threaten Swiss economy

2018-03-23

by Swissinfo

2018-03-23

Ongoing global trade disputes involving the United States are casting a potential shadow over Swiss economic growth, along with other international events, such as the Italian elections and Brexit. However, the Swiss economy is forecast to expand 2.4% this year and 2% in 2019.

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Swiss News Agency calls for help in job cuts conflict

2018-02-22

by Swissinfo

2018-02-22

After three weeks of talks, management and staff at the Swiss News Agency (SDA-ATS) have not managed to reach an agreement on job cuts, and are now calling for the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to mediate. Both sides agreed to the call. Their negotiations followed a strike in late January-early February over a plan to cut up to 40 jobs out of a total 180.

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Swiss want only five bilateral treaties under EU framework agreement

2018-01-14

by Swissinfo

2018-01-14

According to an unpublished list that was revealed in some Swiss papers, Switzerland wants only five of around 120 bilateral treaties with the European Union to figure in a future institutional framework agreement. A reportexternal link on foreign economic policy published on Wednesday stated that an institutional framework agreement would apply to those bilateral agreements that allow access to certain areas of the European Union's (EU) internal...

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Swiss Consumer Sentiment Still Lukewarm

2016-11-03

by SECO

2016-11-03

Switzerland SECO Consumer Climate Q3/2016

The latest survey shows that there was hardly any change in consumer sentiment in Switzerland between July and October 2016*. The index currently stands at -13 points and has consistently come in at a value below its long-term average for over a year now. However, consumers believe that the outlook for the economy over the coming months is considerably better than in July. The assessment of price trends also underwent an upward adjustment.

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SECO expects 2.2% Swiss GDP growth in 2014 and 2.7% in 2015: Implications on the Swiss Franc

swiss gdp forecast march 2014 seco, consuotion, business cycles expert group

History of Wrong Forecasts by Swiss and Fed Economists: Update September 2013

2013-09-19

by George Dorgan

2013-09-19

Or how to talk down and how to talk up an economy with wrong forecasts American and Swiss mentalities are very different, the Americans have the tendency not to care about the future a lot, the Swiss, however, do things only after careful consideration of potential risks. This tendency can be proven economically with … Continue reading...

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Swiss Economic Indicators, March 2013

2013-03-27

by George Dorgan

2013-03-27

GDP KOF Wages CPI PPI Trade Balance Consumption SECO Industrial Production Construction

Switzerland continues to see a robust economy, even if the leading KOF indicator fell to 0.99 after highs of 1.68 in September. On other side, real and nominal wages continue to increase. As opposed to the KOF value, the UBS consumption indicator is rising. This shows that the internal economy is able to balance … Continue...

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The history of wrong forecasts by Swiss economists: details

2013-01-13

by George Dorgan

2013-01-13

Or how to talk down an economy with wrong forecasts Read the introductory post here, if you haven’t yet. Details of SECO forecasts In the following we give the details about the SECO, the Swiss government economic agency’s, forecasts. Forecast Q1/2009 Sharp recession in 2009, gradual stabilization in 2010 Bern, 17.03.2009 – Economic …

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Yearly Swiss Doomsaying and Swissmem’s Control over the Swiss National Bank

2013-01-11

by George Dorgan

2013-01-11

The same as every year in December/January: Swiss media and economists are doomsaying. This time they claim that the banking industry and the UBS job losses will bring Switzerland into trouble. Once again they do not understand that the Great Recession was only to a small part a banking crisis, but it was mostly a … Continue reading »

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Former SECO Chief Economist: Switzerland Must Exit Peg in 2-3 Years

2012-12-26

by George Dorgan

2012-12-26

Aymo Brunetti, the former chief economist of the SECO, the Swiss national bureau of economy, says that Switzerland must exit the peg against the euro in two or three years time. This is in line with our analysis of upwards and downwards drivers of Swiss inflation. We judged that in 2 or 3 years time, upwards drivers will...

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Swiss and German Economic Indicators, Update November 1

2012-11-01

by George Dorgan

2012-11-01

Swiss & German Economic Indicators, August 2012

Euro Crisis Has Affected Germany, Switzerland Still Immune Most Recent Events The Swiss SVME PMI has risen from 43.9 to 46.1. This PMI is dominated by machinery, metallurgical and electric equipment exporters organized in the Swissmem organization. As opposed to the chemical industry, they were not innovative enough to adapt to the stronger franc; but …

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Euro Crisis Has Affected Germany, Switzerland Still Immune

2012-10-26

by George Dorgan

2012-10-26

Swiss and German Economic Indicators, October 2012 Both Swiss and German economic indicators show continued signs of stability, but the German situation has become worse and might affect the Swiss. Especially low unemployment, rising real wages and strong trade balances are signs of robustness. Despite that, Germany’s industrial production is weaker than last year, …

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Economic Indicators: In Switzerland and Germany the Euro Crisis Seems to Be Far Away

2012-08-29

by George Dorgan

2012-08-29

Swiss vs. German Economic Indicators, August 2012 Both Swiss and German economic indicators show continued signs of stability. Especially low unemployment, good retail sales and strong trade balances are signs of robustness. The German trade surplus has improved compared to last year, whereas the strong franc harmed the Swiss trade surplus just a bit. …

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