Economy
Finnish industrial sectors experienced widespread growth in June, with increases in orders, production, and turnover compared to both the previous year and the previous month, according to data from Statistics Finland. The value of new orders across industry rose by 16.6% year-on-year in June, while working-day
Economy
Espoo and Vantaa have announced plans to begin restructuring negotiations, citing the need to balance their finances amid growing deficits. The decisions have sparked concern among city employees, particularly in Espoo, where the scale of potential layoffs has come as a shock.
Culture
Fazer is consolidating four of its popular crunchy candies under the Marianne brand, a move that has drawn both confusion and criticism from consumers. The affected products—American Pastilles, London Granules, Avec Granules, and Marianne Granules—will now be marketed under new names while retaining their original recipes.
Economy
Stora Enso has announced co-determination negotiations for its Uimaharju business unit in Joensuu, impacting approximately 380 employees across the pulp mill and adjacent sawmill. The negotiations, set to begin on 17 August and last at least three weeks, aim to address reductions and organizational changes within the unit. The
Economy
Finland’s public finances will require adjustments worth 8–11 billion euros over the next parliamentary term (2027–2031), with the government and economists locked in a heated debate over whether tax increases, spending cuts, or structural reforms are the least damaging path forward. Terhi Järvikare, Head of the Tax
Traffic
A long-awaited passenger rail connection between Finland and Sweden officially launched today, with the first train departing from Oulu to Haparanda at 5:08 AM. The service, which last operated in 1988, restores direct rail links across the western border after decades of absence. National railway operator VR will
Education
A majority of families using early childhood education services in Finland no longer pay income-based customer fees, according to a recent survey. The Association of Finnish Municipalities (Kuntaliitto) reports that over 50% of clients were exempt from fees in 2024, a significant increase from slightly under 40% four years
Economy
Finland’s Saturday Lottery draw failed to produce a single winner with seven correct numbers, leaving the €4 million jackpot unclaimed. The numbers drawn were 1, 12, 14, 15, 22, 32, and 40, with 27 as the additional number and 18 as the plus number (MTV Uutiset; Iltalehti). The highest-
Economy
Electricity prices in Finland are expected to increase significantly in the coming months, with futures prices indicating a potential rise of up to 70 percent compared to last year. Iltalehti reports that tax-exempt electricity prices for October–December are currently trading at around 9–9.5 cents per kilowatt-
Economy
The Finnish government has unveiled its draft budget for 2027, proposing total spending of €92.2 billion with a €12.9 billion deficit, according to the Ministry of Finance. The budget includes significant increases in funding for wellbeing services counties, pensions, and EU contributions, alongside targeted savings and reforms in
Traffic
The share of fully electric vehicles in Finland’s new passenger car market reached a record high in July, even as the broader car trade continues to struggle with weak demand. According to Yle, 64% of new cars entering traffic last month were electric, with over half of these being
Economy
The iconic Finnish bicycle manufacturer Tunturi has filed for bankruptcy, marking the end of over a century of operations in the country. The company submitted its bankruptcy petition to the District Court of Southwest Finland on Wednesday, 5 August, as confirmed by multiple sources. Founded in Turku in 1922, Tunturi’