Fewer Germans are immigrating to Switzerland; car insurance premiums are set to rise further in 2027; and more news in our roundup this Friday.
Fewer Germans are settling in Switzerland
Figures from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) show that while in the past five years the number of people immigrating from Germany to Switzerland increased each year, 2026 is seeing a clear reversal of this trend.
Matthias Estermann of the Association for Germans in Switzerland said the reason for this drop is that Swiss labour market has become “more challenging.”
“It is harder to find a job in Switzerland,” he said.. “Positions are being cut here, too. Furthermore, when filling vacancies, priority is given to local professionals before foreign applicants are considered.”
Car insurance premiums are set to rise further in 2027
Following a 19-percent increase in premiums between 2021 and 2026, further hikes are expected, according to a survey carried out by Comparis consumer platform.
The exact increases will vary.
Three factors account for this ongoing increase, Comparis reported.
They are the price of spare parts, garage repair bills, and damage caused by severe weather.
For instance, the average cost of repairing a rear door surged by 46 percent between 2023 and 2025, the cost for side body panels rose by 41 percent, and for front fenders by 32 percent.
Furthermore, the technologies integrated into modern vehicle models make repairs more expensive as well.
Now it’s Switzerland’s turn to fall victim to a cyberattack targeting refrigeration facilities
Following similar incidents in other European countries, a butcher shop in Köniz, on the outskirts of Bern, was the target of such an attack, forcing the store to close temporarily.
“A cyberattack allowed for the manipulation of the electronic control system for our refrigeration and freezing units,” the butcher shop, Lüthi’s Fleischwaren, said on Thursday. .
According to its owner, temperatures inside the freezer reached between 50 and 70C, literally cooking the meat and even melting price tags.
Shopping tourism: Threshold for tax refunds is set to drop below 50 euros
Shoppers from Switzerland will soon be able to claim back German Value-Added Tax (VAT), even on very small purchase amounts.
This change will be made possible by the introduction of a digital export document. Using an app, Swiss shoppers will be able to store their receipts digitally, and their departure from Germany back to Switzerland will be registered automatically.
The VAT can then be refunded either via bank transfer or as a credit toward a future purchase – the specific method varies from store to store.
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
