Swiss inflation in December edges into positive territory

ZURICH, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Switzerland's annual inflation rate edged back into positive territory in December, government data showed on Thursday, albeit remaining at the bottom end of the Swiss National Bank's target range.

The 0.1% increase in consumer prices, in line with a forecast by analysts polled by Reuters, was a rise from the 0% rate in November.

The SNB aims for an inflation rate of between 0 and 2%, although recently the central bank has said it was prepared to let inflation fall below the target on a temporary basis.

The SNB declined to comment on the latest figures.

The average inflation rate for 2025 was 0.2%, much lower than the rates of 1.1% in 2024 and 2.1% in 2023.

While prices for housing rents, chocolate and meals increased last year, prices for electricity, petrol and second-hand cars fell.

Overall, prices for Swiss domestic products increased on average by 0.7% during 2025, the Federal Statistics Office said, but this was countered by a decline in prices for imported products, which fell by 1.6%.

Month-on-month, the Swiss consumer price index was unchanged in December compared with November.

The figure was slightly above the 0.1% drop forecast in the Reuters poll.