Champagne Index: A somewhat different economic barometer

The economic sentiment in Switzerland is surprisingly positive in spring 2025 - especially in comparison to Austria. This is the key finding of the "Champagne Index Switzerland" by the online research institute Marketagent. With a little tongue-in-cheek and some unconventional questions, both consumers and business insiders were asked for their assessment of the current economic situation.

A champagne glass full of confidence

The Swiss economy has seen moderate growth in recent years, with growth of 1.4% forecast for the current year 2025. Despite current geopolitical uncertainties and global challenges, for example in trade, both domestic consumers and companies are optimistic: "We asked our B2B community to depict the current economic situation as the fill level in a champagne glass. Using this analogy, the 100 business insiders surveyed rated the fill level in the glass at an average of 68.3%," explains Thomas Schwabl, founder of Marketagent Schweiz AG. For Swiss consumers, too, the glass is more than half full. On average, they estimate the contents of the glass at 56.5%.

By way of comparison, our neighboring country Austria is much less sparkling. Their business insiders see an average of only 41.5% of filling in the metaphorical champagne glass and for the Austrian population the glass is even a little emptier (40.8%).

When it comes to toasting to developments in the coming months, the majority of Swiss businesses are happy to drink something sparkling (sparkling wine/wine: 54%), while the population is more cautious and prefers to stock up on still drinks as a precaution.

*n = 200 (company perspective) | **n = 1,062 (total Swiss population)

Confident company valuation

Whether wine or water, the confidence of the industry professionals surveyed in their own company is definitely high: 8 out of 10 would invest their private money and buy company shares (82%). And if the company were a Tinder suggestion, just as many would swipe right - i.e. want to make contact (84%). The comparison with the competition is not shied away from either. If their own market environment corresponded to a concert, the majority of respondents would definitely position themselves prominently. In this analogy, just under a third see their own company in the VIP box (30%), a further quarter at least in the front row in front of the stage (23%). As many as 18% perceive themselves as the leading band on stage.

The 10-year outlook among the industry insiders surveyed is also optimistic - the majority of them expect their company to rise in the next decade. In a skyscraper analogy, a third see their company reaching the heights of the Empire State Building, for example (33%), while 6% can even imagine the top of the industry in the form of the Burj Khalifa.

Cautious optimism among the population as a whole

Swiss consumers are also optimistic about the future. Personal satisfaction remains stable despite economic uncertainties: 44% state that they are very or somewhat satisfied with their lives, 23% are even very satisfied. The assessment of their own financial situation is also rather positive: 36% rate their situation as rather good and 33% rate it as satisfactory. By contrast, only around one in eleven (9%) feel very well protected.

People in Germany are currently most concerned about the rising cost of living (63%) and the growing tax burden (56%). More than one in two people are also worried about a growing division in society (54%). "Despite challenges such as inflation and social tensions, the overall view of Swiss consumers remains rather optimistic. The economic mood is assessed as solid by the majority, and personal satisfaction is stable. Our Champagne Index clearly shows that both consumers and companies are looking to the future with a certain amount of optimism - even if the glasses are not always full to the brim," concludes Roland Zeindler, Managing Director of Marketagent Schweiz AG.

Source: Marketagent Switzerland