immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: statistik

  • Construction activity remains stable

    Construction activity remains stable

    Construction activity realised a small year-on-year increase of 0.4 percent to CHF 4.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025, the Swiss Federation of Master Builders(SBV) reported in a press release. It estimates construction activity to be stable despite the international trade conflicts. For the year as a whole, the association expects construction activity to grow by 1.1 per cent year-on-year.

    The SBC experts observed different developments in the individual sectors of the construction industry in the quarter under review. Commercial construction, for example, was 7 per cent weaker than in the first quarter of 2024. By contrast, construction activity in public building construction increased by 23 per cent at the same time. In civil engineering, a decline in private construction activity was largely offset by growth of 2.8 per cent in the much stronger public civil engineering sector. The bottom line is that construction activity in civil engineering fell by around 2 per cent.

    In the press release, the SBC emphasises the “surprisingly” positive development in residential construction. At CHF 1.7 billion, turnover here was 2.4 per cent higher than in the same quarter of the previous year. The SBC experts consider the 11 per cent year-on-year growth in new orders observed at the same time to be “particularly pleasing”. They attribute this to the increased number of building applications in the previous year, which is now “gradually being reflected in the order books”.

  • Swiss data ecosystem

    Swiss data ecosystem

    Data is a key resource for economic development, research and social progress. To prevent data from remaining in isolated silos, the federal government is focussing on a national data ecosystem. This comprises topic-specific data spaces in which companies, universities, authorities and organisations can exchange data in a secure and controlled manner.

    The Federal Council has instructed the Federal Chancellery to create a central contact point to coordinate these data rooms. The Swiss Data Ecosystem Focal Point, which began operations on 15 January 2025, is operated by the Federal Chancellery in collaboration with the Federal Office of Communications, the Federal Statistical Office and the Directorate of International Law.

    Coordination, advice and international networking
    The main task of the contact point is to create the basis for an interoperable data ecosystem. This includes regulations, technical standards and organisational structures. At the same time, it supports ongoing data room projects with conceptual, organisational and legal advice.

    A central element is the networking of the relevant players. Experts can exchange knowledge and experience in so-called communities of practice in order to accelerate the development of joint data solutions. In addition, the contact point works with international partners such as the Fraunhofer Institute to ensure the compatibility of Swiss data spaces with European and global initiatives.

    Making data usable for business, research and society
    Several data room projects are already under development, for example in the areas of health (“DigiSanté”), tourism (“National Data Infrastructure for Tourism”) and agriculture (“agridata.ch”). Another example is the planned mobility data space, in which players from public transport, logistics and the authorities exchange mobility data. This will enable more efficient traffic management, optimised route planning for freight forwarders and faster response times for emergency services.

    With the new contact point, Switzerland is taking an important step towards utilising the potential of data sustainably and promoting digital innovations across industry and administrative boundaries.

  • Home ownership is becoming more expensive

    Home ownership is becoming more expensive

    Prices for residential property continued to rise in the second quarter of 2024, theSwiss Federal Statistical Office(SFSO) reported in a press release. The residential property price index it collects rose by 1.1% quarter-on-quarter and currently stands at 117.5 points. Year-on-year, the experts at the FSO have observed an increase of 1.4 percent. The index base was fixed at 100 points in the fourth quarter of 2019.

    Prices for condominiums rose by 0.9% quarter-on-quarter and by 1.7% year-on-year. Single-family homes rose by 1.2% quarter-on-quarter and 1.0% year-on-year. The property price index for single-family homes closed the quarter at 118.6 points. Its counterpart for condominiums was slightly lower at 116.5 points.

    According to the FSO experts, prices for single-family homes rose in all types of municipalities during the quarter under review. They observed the strongest increase of 2.3 percent in the category of rural municipalities. In this category, prices for condominiums also rose particularly sharply by 2.7%. In contrast, prices for condominiums in the urban municipalities of a large conurbation fell by 0.3%.

  • Construction investment increased slightly in 2023

    Construction investment increased slightly in 2023

    Construction investment in Switzerland rose by 0.2 per cent in nominal terms in 2023 compared to the previous year. According to a press release, investments in building construction fell by 0.3 per cent and those in civil engineering increased by 2.7 per cent. Compared to the previous year, 2.5 per cent less was invested in new construction projects and 4.4 per cent more in renovation projects. These are the provisional results of the construction statistics from the Federal Statistical Office(FSO).

    Total construction expenditure, i.e. construction investment plus public maintenance expenditure, increased by 0.3 per cent in 2023, although a price-adjusted decline of 2.5 per cent was recorded.

    Public clients – the federal government, cantons and municipalities – increased investment in civil engineering by 3.9% and in building construction by 8.5%. By contrast, private clients spent less on civil engineering (-2.3%) and building construction (-1.9%) in 2023.

    A decline of 2.5 per cent was recorded for investment in new construction. Private clients spent 4.8 per cent less on new construction projects. In contrast, investment in conversions increased by 4.4 per cent.

    In addition to private renovation activity, which increased by 3.9 per cent, the public sector also invested more in new buildings (6.9 per cent) and renovations (5.2 per cent) compared to the previous year, according to the FSO press release.

  • Analysis and outlook for construction prices

    Analysis and outlook for construction prices

    The Construction Price Index 2023 reveals a complex dynamic in Swiss building construction, with moderate price increases influenced by a mix of international market conditions, currency effects and local economic factors. The industry faces challenges, including a changing labour market and declining construction activity, which require strategic adjustments. The report provides key insights for property industry management professionals to make informed decisions and anticipate future developments.

    The analysis of material prices for building construction shows a differentiated development: while the KBOB material price index only recorded a slight increase of 0.6 per cent in November 2023 compared to the previous year, a look at individual materials reveals significant differences. For example, prices for reinforcing steel fell sharply by 28 per cent, while fresh concrete and bricks saw price increases of 9.5 and 36 per cent respectively. These price developments reflect a normalisation of international market prices and the effects of the appreciation of the Swiss franc, which reduced import costs for building materials. However, this was offset by rising energy and fuel prices, which affected the cost of materials.

    The situation on the labour market in the construction industry and wage trends remain of strategic importance. Following a temporary increase in job vacancies in spring, the rate stabilised at 2.1% in the third quarter of 2023 and thus remains above the ten-year average. Demographic trends are intensifying the challenges facing the construction industry, which is contributing to continued upward pressure on wages.

    Construction activity, particularly in the area of residential and office space, has declined continuously since 2021. Investment in new building permits has fallen compared to the average values of the last five years, which is due to high financing costs and a subdued economic outlook. These developments could lead to increased price competition and impact profitability in the construction sector.

  • Home prices rise by 1.2% in Q2 2023

    Home prices rise by 1.2% in Q2 2023

    In Q2 2023, both the prices of single-family houses (+0.7%) and those of owner-occupied flats (+1.6%) rose across Switzerland compared with the previous quarter. In the case of single-family houses, prices rose the most in the urban municipalities of a small conurbation or outside a conurbation (+3.4%), while prices in the urban municipalities of a large conurbation and in the intermediate municipalities remained stable. The condominium market segment shows higher prices than in Q1 2023 in all municipality types. The strongest price increase took place in the category of urban municipalities of an intermediate agglomeration (+2.4%). Further information at www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/aktuell