Swedish holdings in foreign portfolio assets decreased in the first half of 2025. Total holdings amounted to SEK 10 682 billion, which was a decrease of 3 percent compared to the end of the second half of 2024. Holdings in shares accounted for the largest percentage decrease. Holding in investment fund shares decreased meanwhile debt securities increased.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the number of employed people amounted to 5 247 000, not seasonally adjusted, which is an increase of 53 000. The total number of hours worked amounted to an average of 165.7 million per week. The number of unemployed people increased by 47 000 to 485 000. This corresponds to an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent, an increase of 0.7 percentage points. Seasonally adjusted and smoothed data shows an increase in both employment and unemployment. The employment rate was 69.1 percent, and the unemployment rate was 9.0 percent.
The number of ongoing employments increased by 0.6 percent compared to November previous year. During the same period, hours worked increased by 0.1 percent, amounting to 706 million hours. The proportion of sickness was 2.0 percent. The total gross pay was 197 000 million SEK.
The volume of retail trade decreased by 0.7 percent in December 2025 compared with November 2025. Retail sales in durables decreased by 1.1 percent and retail sales in consumables (excluding Systembolaget, the state-owned chain of liquor stores) decreased by 0.1 percent. These figures are calendar and seasonally adjusted and calculated in constant prices.
The lending rates decreased for all enterprise sizes in November compared to October. This means that the lending rates have now been falling for around two years. For large enterprises, which account for around half of the total loan amount, the lending rate was 3.31 percent in November. This can be compared with the lending rate two years ago, in November 2023, when it was 5.15 percent. Tenant owners’ associations, reported as a separate size category, recorded the lowest lending rate at 2.88 percent in November.