The KOF Economic Barometer for Switzerland climbed to 106.7 in August 2026, up from a revised 104.2 in July and clearly exceeding market expectations of 103.3. This was the highest reading since November 2021 and was largely driven by positive momentum in manufacturing, other services, and foreign demand. By contrast, private consumption remained under strain.
Across the producing sector—which includes both manufacturing and construction—most groups of indicators pointed to an improving environment. In particular, measures related to intermediate-goods inventories, employment prospects, production activity, and order backlogs all indicated a brighter outlook. The majority of manufacturing sub-indicators reinforced this positive picture: the metal and textile industries showed favorable developments, while the paper and printing industries registered a setback.
