Arbeitslosigkeit im Januar 2010. Gemäss den Erhebungen des Staatssekretariats für Wirtschaft SECO waren Ende Januar 2010 175’765 Arbeitslose bei den Regionalen Arbeitsvermittlungszentren (RAV) eingeschrieben, 3’025 mehr als im Vormonat. Die Arbeitslosenquote stieg damit von 4,4% im Dezember 2009 auf 4,5% im Berichtsmonat. Gegenüber dem Vorjahresmonat erhöhte sich die Arbeitslosigkeit um 47’335 Personen (+36,9%).

Based on the latest consumer confidence survey (January 2010), Swiss consumer sentiment rose once again at the beginning of the year. The quarterly survey index* , which is calculated from questioning around 1’100 households, reached a level of -7 points in January (compared with -14 points in October 2009). Based on the January survey, consumers expect unemployment to rise more slowly and expect positive developments in their personal financial situation as well as an improvement in the general economic condition.

At the invitation of the President of the Swiss Confederation, Doris Leuthard, 17 Ministers in charge of WTO affairs as well as WTO Director General Pascal Lamy met in Davos, Switzerland, today. The purpose of the meeting was to exchange views on where we stand in the Doha Round and what is needed to progress.