The business situation in the Swiss mechanical and electrical engineering industries was positive but less dynamic in the first quarter of 2017. New orders increased by 2.3 percent compared with the same quarter of the previous year. The ostensibly strong 9.5 percent rise in sales is put into perspective by a high baseline. Exports (+3.9%) performed well overall. Many companies in the MEM industries remain under great pressure due to the persistently weak earnings position. Nevertheless, companies’ positive expectations, good economic forecasts in the key sales markets and the recent slight fall in the Swiss franc raise hopes of a longer-term recovery in the MEM industries.
