Month: August 2025

The Finnish Commerce Federation supports the liberalisation of the sale of over-the-counter medicines outside pharmacies, as in the other Nordic countries. However, in the model proposed by the government, the benefits for consumers threaten to be minor. The range to be liberated should be expanded and the sales operating model should be significantly corrected.

According to the Finnish Commerce Federation’s forecast, the growth of commerce will only start to show next year when geopolitical changes keep both consumers and wholesale trade customer companies cautious. Although the declining employment situation has increased the caution of consumers, the increasing purchasing power is gradually starting to be reflected in retail sector sales. However, the employment rate of the private sector’s by far largest employer, commerce, continues to decline. Political decision-makers should remember that significant growth in employment is difficult to achieve without vital commerce and other service sectors.