Retail trade Postfinance consumption indicator rises in January
Consumption in Switzerland picked up at the beginning of the year. According to the Postfinance consumption indicator, consumer spending rose in January 2025 compared to the same month in the previous year at the highest rate since February 2024.
14.02.2025, 11:08
SDA
Swiss consumption got off to a solid start to the new year, according to a press release issued on Friday. Consumer spending in Switzerland in the first month of the year was 1.2 percent higher than in the same period last year.
Domestic demand is thus continuing the positive trend from the end of the year and supporting the overall economic development, which is suffering from the weak demand for Swiss export products, according to Postfinance. This also reflects the recent improvement in sentiment among both service providers and consumers in Switzerland.
Every month, Postfinance anonymously evaluates the payment transactions of its 2.4 million customers. The consumption indicator calculated from this data shows consumer spending adjusted for the effects of sales days and public holidays in a year-on-year comparison or on a seasonally adjusted basis compared with the previous month.
Travel spending more moderate again
In January, knowledge articles such as books and newspapers recorded a slight increase compared to the end of the previous year, while less was spent on cars, according to the report. It was also noticeable that clothing purchases remained at a comparatively low level. In contrast, spending on health treatments has increased slightly again in the past six months.
With regard to leisure spending, there was a decline in restaurant visits in January. However, according to Postfinance, this was partially offset by a slight increase in spending on computer and electronic items.
Meanwhile, travel spending - after reaching a new high in December 2024 - returned to a more moderate level in January 2025. Spending on hotel accommodation and car rental bookings, for example, declined.
