'The stagnation seen last month in the indicator was of short duration because the latest cyclical data provoke a renewed slightly positive trend,' the Institute explained this week.

According to a report from the Swissinfo news service, Economics Minister, Pascal Couchepin is also confident for the future, and described the economy as being in good shape in a recent interview.

'If unemployment figures in Germany were as low as they are in Switzerland, Chancellor Schroder would have no problems being re-elected,' Swissinfo quoted him as observing on Wednesday.