The KOF Economic Barometer increases in April. After the considerable drop in the previous month, it continues to remain below its medium-term average. The outlook for the Swiss economy remains muted, despite this month's increase of the KOF Economic Barometer.
In April, the KOF Economic Barometer increases by 2.3 points to a level of 97.9 (after revised 95.6 in the previous month). Among the indicator bundles included in the Economic Barometer, the indicators for manufacturing, for other services and for private consumption show particularly positive developments. The indicators for hospitality, however, weaken, while the indicator bundles for foreign demand, for financial and insurance services as well as for construction remain nearly unaltered.
The majority of the sub-indicators for the different aspects of business activity within the producing industry (manufacturing and construction) indicate positive developments. In particular, the sub-indicators for stockpiling of intermediate goods, for the assessment of production barriers as well as for capacity utilisation are improving. The sub-indicators for the general business situation and for employment prospects, however, are under pressure.
Among the sub-indicators within manufacturing, the indicator bundles for the wood, glass, stone and earth segment as well as for food and beverage producers experience a setback. In contrast, the sub-indicators for the metal industry, for paper and printing products and for the electrical industry point to a more favourable outlook.