le News

This week, Swiss Rail published its half-year results. During the first six months of 2024, the company made a profit of CHF 50.8 million, a level far below what is required for it to operate comfortably and service its debt. Swiss Rail © Sergiomonti | Dreamstime.comAs a rule of thumb, to remain in good financial shape the company needs to make a profit CHF 500 million annually, which would mean CHF 250 million over six months, roughly five times the recent six month result. The main...

Switzerland’s federal government is spending more money than it collects in taxes. This week, a federal commission set out options for spending cuts, reported SRF. The problem is than some of them would involve less federal money going to cantonal governments. Bern © Victor Torres | Dreamstime.comSwitzerland’s Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter hopes to break the deadlock around balancing the federal budget. To do so, she has called on a group of experts for advice. This week, a...

Since 1990, the cost of travel by car has risen 24%, while travel by public transport has leapt by more than 100%, reported SRF. © Hai Huy Ton That | Dreamstime.comSince 1990, fuel prices and car prices have fallen, while the cost of tickets to ride public transport have consistently risen. According to Stefan Meierhans, Switzerland’s chief price watchdog, the rising cost gap is creating the wrong incentives. Why take a train when a car is cheaper? Another challenge is the way the...

Electricity prices will fall across most of Switzerland next year. The average price drop across the country will be around 10%. However, the drop will vary by location and prices will rise in a few regions, reported RTS. Electricity Meter © Fluffthecat | Dreamstime.comIn some places the price will drop by more than 20%. In a few it will rise by more than 30%. The 10% average price drop follows hikes of 27% in 2023 and 18% in 2024, a total jump of around 50%. Average savings in 2025...

Last week, the government in Bern broadly supported a plan to force all property owners to contribute to the cost of earthquake repair. This week, a Swiss homeowners association rejected the idea, reported SRF. Earthquake © Olga Demina | Dreamstime.comThe government plan is a response to the attitude of many home owners towards insurance. Only 15% of buildings are insured against earthquakes in Switzerland, a nation at risk, according to a government estimate. If some homeowners won’t...

This week, Switzerland’s federal government announced future increases to state pensions, disability benefits and family support benefits, reported RTS. © Swisshippo | Dreamstime.comThe 2.9% increase is the first adjustment since 2009. It means monthly pension and disability payments will rise on 1 January 2025 by between CHF 35 and CHF 70, depending on the level of salary based contributions. Family support benefits will rise by CHF 15 a month for young children and by CHF 18 a month...

Over time, salaries increase with inflation. However, if tax deductions and allowances are not adjusted the percentage of income taken in tax rises, a phenomenon known as tax creep or fiscal drag. Given recent inflation, Switzerland’s federal government announced this week that it was increasing allowances and deductions, reported SRF. Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.comFrom 2025, the child and support allowances will rise from CHF 6,700 to CHF 6,800. And married couples will start paying...

Switzerland sometimes feels like the land of insurance. Numerous costs that are covered by taxes in many places come instead in the form of compulsory insurance in Switzerland. However, some risks remain uncovered by compulsory insurance. Earthquakes are one such risk. This week, a plan to force all property owners to contribute to the cost of earthquake repair received broad support in Bern. © GoranJakus | Dreamstime.comOver the years, Switzerland’s federal government has tried and...

Switzerland’s economy grew slightly more than expected in the second quarter of 2024, reported SRF. Photo by ThisIsEngineering on Pexels.comBetween April and June 2024, Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.5%. A survey of economists had expected growth for the quarter to be between 0.2% and 0.4%. The biggest driver of growth during the quarter came from industry, which grew at a faster rate than the service economy. Second quarter growth (+0.5%) outstripped growth in the first...

In March 2024, 58% of voters voted in favour of paying an additional 13th month of state pension. That triggered a fierce debate on how to fund it. This week, Switzerland’s Federal Council said it planned to fund the increase with higher VAT with no rise in salary taxes. Photo by Centre for Ageing Better on Pexels.comThe news was delivered by Elisabeth Baume-Schneide, Switzerland’s minister of internal affairs, a role that covers pensions. The Federal Council’s argument for funding higher...