Switzerland, consumption up 0,9% in September

Context

TL;DR

• In September, Swiss consumer spending rose by 0,9%.
• In August, growth had been 0,8%.
• In July, the increase was 1,1%; in June, 1,8%.
• Restaurants down, cosmetics and treatments up.

Key facts

• Indicator → consumption in Switzerland
• Calculation → card payments by 2,4 million PostFinance customers
• September comparison → 0,9% compared with the same period in 2025
• August → 0,8%
• July → 1,1%
• June → 1,8%
• News source → Keystone-ATS
• Analysis → experts from Posta's financial subsidiary

In September, PostFinance's consumption indicator, calculated on the basis of payments made with the cards of its 2,4 million customers, increased by 0,9% compared with September 2025. The increase occurred despite widespread price rises: according to the source, the Swiss population's propensity to spend remained unchanged.

Keystone-ATS reports a still-positive monthly sequence. In August, the increase had been 0,8%, in July 1,1% and in June 1,8%. Comparison with the previous months therefore shows a more moderate pace than during the summer period, without erasing the growth recorded by the indicator.

The June figure, at 1,8%, is the highest of the four cited figures; in July, the increase fell to 1,1%, in August to 0,8% and in September rose again to 0,9%. The source presents this trajectory as continued growth, but slightly more moderate than in the summer.

PostFinance's comment

In today's analysis of the Swiss population's spending behavior, experts from Posta's financial subsidiary note that consumer spending in the country is still increasing, but at a slightly more moderate pace than in the summer.

Once the holiday period ended, travel and social occasions became less central. The decline in restaurant visits was recorded both in the Confederation and abroad. At the same time, the population's spending on cosmetic products and treatments increased considerably.

The analysis therefore has a twofold message: overall spending observed remains solid, while some habits change after the holiday season. The source links the resilience of consumer spending to the fact that the greater burden on households, due to the recent rise in inflation, has not erased the propensity to spend.

Operational details

The September figure becomes easier to understand when the percentage is considered alongside the sequence of previous months. It is not enough to say that consumer spending is growing: the source also notes that the pace is slightly more moderate than in the summer. The series therefore makes it possible to distinguish the direction, which is still positive, from the speed of growth.

Growth at different rates

June represents the highest point among the months mentioned, while July and August show a more limited progression. September interrupts the decline in the sequence with a figure slightly higher than August, but remains below the levels of June and July. It is this combination that explains the experts' comment on the moderation of the summer pace.

The spending categories add a second level of analysis. After the holidays, travel and social gatherings take a back seat; visits to restaurants decrease both in Switzerland and abroad. By contrast, spending on cosmetic products and treatments increases sharply. Overall resilience therefore coexists with a shift in consumption habits.

For those observing the cost of living, the practical point is not to stop at the aggregate figure alone. It is worth looking together at the monthly trend, the greater family burden linked to inflation, and the categories indicated by PostFinance. For a broader picture, one can consult costo della vita in Svizzera.

Those who want to relate the general trend in spending to their own situation can supplement this reading with busta paga svizzera, keeping separate the national data on card payments and their own budget.

Recommended tools

For an updated estimate, use the net salary calculator and the CHF-EUR exchange comparator.

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

To turn the news into an orderly reading, one can follow a simple procedure based exclusively on the references provided by PostFinance. The goal is to understand what the indicator measures, which comparison it uses, and what changes it describes in the spending categories.

Five checks before drawing a conclusion

1. Define the comparison. For September, the reference is the same period of 2025: this is the benchmark used to measure the growth of 0,9%.

2. Reconstruct the sequence. Line up June at 1,8%, July at 1,1%, August at 0,8% and September at 0,9%. This way, the change in the latest month is read together with the previous ones.

3. Check the data basis. The indicator is calculated from card payments by PostFinance's 2,4 million customers. This is the scope stated by the source.

4. Separate the categories. After the holidays, travel and social gatherings decline; restaurant visits fall in Switzerland and abroad, while cosmetic products and treatments increase.

5. Consider inflation. The specialists' conclusion brings together two elements: consumption is still solid, and families are facing a greater burden due to the recent increase in inflation.

This framework avoids treating the September figure alone as an isolated snapshot. It makes it possible to follow the monthly pace, recognize changes in habits and connect the observed spending to the cost-of-living issue, without adding figures different from those published.

To move from the overall figure to a personal estimate, use calcolatore stipendio.

Source: swissinfo.ch