Our money
🛡️ Denmark brings back ground-based air defense. For the first time in 20 years, Denmark is reintroducing a ground-based air defense system. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen says the first systems will be ordered next week and ready by 2026.
🏠 ECB cuts rates again in good news for homeowners. One year after starting to lower interest rates, the European Central Bank has now halved its key rate from 4% to 2%. That’s a win for homeowners with variable loans like F-kort and Flexkort, who can expect significant monthly savings. Inflation in the eurozone is now down to 1.9%, hitting the ECB’s 2% target and making further cuts likely.
- Starting June 6, Danmarks Nationalbank is lowering its key interest rates by 0.25%, mirroring the European Central Bank’s latest move. The folio rate, deposit rate, and discount rate all drop to 1.60%, while the lending rate is now 1.75%. The rate cut keeps Denmark’s monetary policy aligned with the eurozone, aiming to support stable inflation and economic activity.
State of the markets
♻️ Secondhand goes mainstream. More people are turning to resale platforms like DBA and Vinted. In 2023, 17% of consumers bought secondhand online, up three points from the year before. A new analysis by Dansk Industri shows three types of buyers drive the trend: climate-conscious buyers, budget-focused shoppers, and those who want to stand out. Young people lead the way, but it’s parents with kids at home who buy the most, especially clothing, which tops the resale charts.
🛍️ Not so Danish after all. More webshops are pretending to be Danish while selling cheap, unsafe goods shipped from Asia. The DR show Kontant uncovered online stores with fake addresses, AI-generated shopfronts, and delivery times that don’t match the “local” image. Some even sell flammable lamps or unsafe toys. Experts warn that these drop-shipping sites trick customers with cozy branding and vague terms. Want to avoid getting scammed? Check the CVR number, look up the website on Punktum.dk, reverse image search the products, and never trust reviews on the seller’s site.
Read more:Â How you can shop European in Denmark
⚽ Owners abroad, local regrets. More Danish football clubs have been sold to investors abroad, only to be bought back by locals after turbulent takeovers. Sønderjyske, Esbjerg fB, Vejle, Næstved, Fremad Amager, and Vendsyssel all experienced dramatic declines or fan backlash under abroad ownership. From unpaid wages to chaotic relegations, promises of growth turned into nightmares. Now AaB is the latest in crisis, with fans clashing with its German owners after another Superliga relegation.
Entrepreneurship
🇪🇺 Startup meets Brussels at TechBBQ’s new Policy Lounge. On August 27, a brand-new Policy Lounge will launch at TechBBQ, bringing together founders, investors, EU policymakers, and curious minds for a full day of open dialogue in English. The event is free and open to all (no TechBBQ ticket needed) as Denmark gears up for the EU Presidency. Sessions aim to ensure EU policy supports startups and doesn’t slow them down. Sign up here.
