Trade in Swedish border municipalities is increasing, according to fresh figures from Statistics Sweden (SCB). The decline during the pandemic has now been recovered, and the increase can be seen in both the north and south, according to SCB.
While daily goods trade in the entire country increased by 4.4 percent during the first half of the year, the increase in border municipalities was 8.1 percent. The increase was particularly clear in the municipalities bordering Norway, with an increase of 9.1 percent.
Along the border with Finland, sales decreased by 2.5 percent, and in the border town of Haparanda, the decline was 4.6 percent.
"The largest increase is in Strömstad and Jokkmokk. There, sales increased by 13.6 percent during the first half of the year," says Daniel Lennartsson, statistician at SCB, according to a press release.
Arjeplog Municipality also had a significant boost of 12.6 percent.
