Latest News on Tuesday in Sweden: A compendium of current happenings in the nation on this day
Sweden is taking steps to boost its economy and stimulate growth, with Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson planning to halve Value-Added Tax (VAT) on food from 12 percent to 6 percent, starting April 1st, 2023. This move is part of a policy agreed with the far-right Sweden Democrats, aimed at increasing the buying power of Swedish households and boosting consumption.
However, the economic landscape is not all positive. According to Matpriskollen, food prices have increased by 0.6 percent over the past six months and 3.5 percent year-on-year. Chicken and baby food prices, in particular, rose in August. On the other hand, the price of fruit, vegetables, oil, and vinegar decreased during the same month.
Apartment prices, meanwhile, are on the rise. Nationwide, they increased by 3 percent, with Greater Gothenburg and Greater Stockholm seeing a more significant increase of 4.3 percent and 4.1 percent respectively. Despite this, SBAB's chief economist Robert Boije predicts that the price of apartments will remain stable by the end of the year.
In the realm of education, Sweden's schools are facing challenges. Pupils born in Sweden have seen their school performance worsen in recent years, according to a study by the Swedish National Agency for Education. The study marks the first time since the end of the 1990s that children born in Sweden have seen their results decline, with declining results in terms of both qualifications and marks.
Despite efforts to give children from all backgrounds an equal chance, the Agency found no sign of improvement. Among pupils born in Sweden, family background still has an impact on all subjects, and most of all in mathematics. Children from more highly educated and wealthier families still perform better in Sweden's schools.
In the political arena, Jamal El-Haj, the former Social Democrat Palestinian MP, has launched a new pro-immigration party called Enighetspartiet (Unity Party). El-Haj, who has continued to sit in the parliament as an independent MP after leaving the Social Democrats in 2024, founded the party in 2021.
These developments paint a complex picture of Sweden, with economic and educational challenges to address, while political changes are underway. As the country moves forward, it will be interesting to see how these issues evolve.
