KOF Optimistic on Swiss Economy Amid Further Improvement in December

06:16 AM EST, 12/30/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The KOF Swiss Economic Institute's economic barometer for the Swiss economy ended 2025 on an upbeat note with continued improvement in December, leading to an above-average outlook for the new year ahead. Switzerland's KOF Economic Barometer climbed to 103.4 points in December from 101.7 in November, the research institute said in a Tuesday release. The latest figure surpassed the consensus estimate of 101.4 points. The increase was mainly driven by positive developments in the production side indicator bundles, with the manufacturing sector indicators pointing to a "particularly favorable outlook." Within the manufacturing and construction industries, the KOF observed a "particularly bright outlook" with the sub-indicators for employment prospects, stockpiling of intermediate goods, and the general business situation. "Many of the sub-indicators within manufacturing reflect the positive developments. In particular, the sub-indicators for the metal industry as well as for the wood, glass, stone and earth segment strengthen," the KOF said. "The favourable outlook is slightly dampened by weakened developments of the sub-indicators for food and beverage producers as well as for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry." The research institute, however, observed a deterioration in the sub-indicators for production activity and order backlogs. Meanwhile, the indicator bundles on the demand side, specifically the private consumption and foreign demand indicators, are under pressure.