Retailers Complain Despite Busy Shopping Streets
- But current data shows: not all sectors are suffering.
- Stores are closing, prices are falling, and spaces remain empty.
- The ruble rolls: Traders on Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse are optimistic.
Swiss retailers are expecting a bad year. But current data shows: not all sectors are suffering. People are spending more money on food, for example, while clothing stores are struggling. The reasons.
31.01.2026, 06:05
31.01.2026, 06:05
Stefan Ehrbar / ch media
retail is suffering. Stores are closing, prices are falling, and spaces remain empty. The Swiss Retail Federation recently announced that sales in 2025 were lower than in the previous year – according to initial evaluations, by up to 1.3 percent. A turnaround is not in sight. High inflation, real wage increases and a price war in retail are offset by higher premiums for health insurance.Households are “hitting the brakes on spending”. “We are concerned,” Director Dagmar Jenni is quoted as saying.
The ruble rolls: Traders on Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse are optimistic.
bild: keystone
But is the pessimism justified? More recent data paints a more nuanced picture. The Christmas business was exceptionally good, as the Swiss Retail Federation admits – even “vrey good” from mid-December. Records were partially achieved. On December 13, over 86,000 people were on Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse, more than ever as data collection began (excluding days with major events). More people were also on St. Gallen’s Multergasse shopping mile or on Freie Strasse in Basel than in previous years.
High pedestrian frequencies do not automatically translate into higher sales
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Boeing 737 MAX Grounding and Recertification
Table of Contents
The Boeing 737 MAX was grounded worldwide in March 2019 following two fatal crashes, and while it has since been recertified and returned to service, ongoing scrutiny and production issues continue to affect the aircraft and Boeing as of January 31, 2026.
The Initial Grounding (2019-2020)
The grounding began after lion Air Flight 610 on October 29, 2018, and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10, 2019, both involving 737 MAX aircraft, resulted in a combined 346 fatalities.Investigations revealed a common link: a faulty Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) that coudl force the aircraft’s nose down.
Detail: MCAS was designed to automatically push the nose of the plane down to prevent stalls, but it relied on input from a single angle-of-attack sensor. If that sensor failed, MCAS could repeatedly activate, overwhelming pilots. Boeing initially blamed pilot error, but investigations quickly shifted focus to the flawed system.
Example: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on March 13, 2019, grounding all 737 MAX aircraft in the United states. FAA NOTAM 19-05
Recertification and Return to Service (2020-2023)
Following extensive software updates, pilot training revisions, and safety reviews, the FAA lifted the grounding order on December 29, 2020, but the process of returning the 737 MAX to service was slow and met with resistance from some airlines and the public.
Detail: The software updates included redesigning MCAS to use input from two angle-of-attack sensors, providing pilots with more information about the system’s operation, and limiting its authority. Pilots were required to undergo new training, including simulator sessions, to familiarize themselves with the updated system.
Example: American Airlines was the first U.S. carrier to resume 737 MAX flights on January 9,2021. American Airlines Resumes 737 MAX Service
Recent developments (2024-2026)
Despite the recertification, Boeing has faced continued challenges with the 737 MAX, including manufacturing defects and quality control issues. A mid-air incident in January 2024, where a door plug blew out of a 737 MAX 9 during Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, triggered a new wave of scrutiny and a temporary grounding of the 737 MAX 9 fleet. As of January 31, 2026, investigations into the Alaska Airlines incident are ongoing, and Boeing is under pressure from regulators and lawmakers to improve its manufacturing processes.
Detail: the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into the Alaska Airlines incident revealed that the door plug was not properly secured during manufacturing.The FAA later issued a production halt and initiated a extensive review of Boeing’s quality control systems.Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun announced he would step down in 2024.
Example: The FAA’s final report on the Alaska Airlines incident, released in March 2024, detailed systemic failures in Boeing’s quality control processes. NTSB Preliminary Report – Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. On January 24, 2026, the FAA announced it would not allow Boeing to certify its own new aircraft, increasing oversight. Reuters: FAA Will Not Allow boeing to Certify New Aircraft
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): FAA Website – the primary regulatory body overseeing aviation safety in the United States.
- National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB): NTS