Weekly economics overview
Thanks to a new system, it will be easier to switch banks in the near future. Interest rates, fees and conditions vary from bank to bank, which means it could be in your interest to shop around. However, most people don’t bother with the hassle. To switch banks, first you need to provide several documents to a new bank to get an offer. Once the system is implemented, you just need to click a “Consent” button, and all your data will be accessible for the new bank to make an offer (without your current bank being aware of it).
You need authorization to work with asbestos from January 1, 2025. Most, if not all, carpentry companies will have to obtain the authorization before the turn of the new year. To obtain it, employees must attend a mandatory asbestos course. This will likely increase costs for replacing asbestos roofs, so be sure to do so in 2024 to avoid higher fees.
55.1 million DKK investment in green public transport. More specifically, six projects have received funding. Electric buses for local routes in Odsherred and Sorø; for regional routes in Region Midtjylland (Central Denmark); for line 350S in the capital; and for all local and regional routes on the Fyn and Langeland islands (with exception of Odense and Svendborg). Plus, 15 fast electric car chargers at the hospitals in Region Nordjylland (North Denmark).
69% price increase for coffee beans on the global commodity market. Every year, the demand for coffee increases. At the same time, for the last couple of years, the production of coffee has been below expectation due to high temperature flashes that destroyed crops in Brazil, Columbia, and other producing countries. According to experts, coffee will only become more expensive in the future.
22% average price increase for food over the last two years. The ten items that increased the most are olive oil (82.8%), sugar (50.3%), chocolate (41.6%), dry and frozen vegetables (36.8%), eggs (35.1%), cheese (31.9%), flour (31.3%), potatoes (30.2%), rice (29.9%), and baby food (29.7%). Why? It has become more expensive to produce food in climates with higher temperatures and extreme weather conditions.
11% of all payments in Denmark are made in cash. A significant decline since 2017, when the figure was at 23%. As expected, in Copenhagen and surroundings, only 8% of payments are in cash, while in North Denmark, 18% of payments are in cash. See here the situation in your part of the country.
Focus
To preserve the planet for our children, we need to limit our carbon emissions to three tons per person on average every year. Now, if you take a private plane from Denmark to Palma de Mallorca, you emit 3.6 tons of carbon. Basically, just by taking one flight in a private jet, you use up your quota for that year. Of course, most of us don’t have private jets. However, private jets have become a hot topic in Denmark. Why? Climate inequality. The super-rich contribute the most (per person on average) to carbon emissions, while the measures taken don’t really affect them.
- Take, for example, the passenger tax that will be introduced from next year: 30 DKK for short journeys and 300 DKK for longer ones. Private planes are exempt from it.
