The Finnish economy is slowly emerging from a prolonged recession, with the Ministry of Finance projecting modest growth ahead. According to the ministry's autumn forecast, Finland's gross domestic product is expected to grow around 1.0 percent this year, 1.4 percent in 2026, and 1.7 percent in 2027. Despite falling inflation and lower interest rates improving household purchasing power, the recovery has been hampered by weak consumer confidence and economic uncertainty.

Unemployment remains a significant challenge, standing at about 9.4 percent of the labor force—among the highest rates in the European Union. The ministry expects the unemployment rate to decline to 9.0 percent in 2026 as economic activity strengthens. Growth in the labor force, driven by immigration and government employment measures, has so far translated mainly into higher unemployment rather than new jobs, reflecting the sluggish nature of the recovery.

Investment activity shows more promising signs after two years of decline. Defense procurement, including fighter aircraft purchases, is pushing defense spending to record levels, while renewable energy initiatives and new technologies are creating longer-term investment growth. However, the construction sector remains weak, with housing starts well below the level needed to meet long-term demand, and only gradual recovery is expected.

Public finances remain in "deep structural imbalance," with the ministry projecting a general government deficit of 4.3 percent of GDP this year, narrowing to 3.6 percent in 2026. The sustainability gap is estimated at about 2 percent of GDP, or roughly 7 billion euros, by the end of the decade. International factors, including higher U.S. tariffs and euro appreciation, continue to weigh on Finnish exports, though some positive signs from the euro area recovery provide cautious optimism.

Dozens of guests who dined at the upscale Stockholm restaurant Coco & Carmen have fallen ill with listeria infections, with health authorities confirming at least four cases of sepsis among the affected patrons. The outbreak has resulted in approximately 80-81 formal complaints filed with Stockholm's environmental administration regarding food poisoning, with symptoms including high fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and headaches appearing approximately 24 hours after dining at the establishment.

Health officials have expanded their investigation beyond the initial timeframe of September 25-27 to include guests who visited the restaurant on September 23-24, contacting approximately 400 people as part of the expanded tracing efforts. Currently, about 15 patients remain hospitalized, though none have required intensive care according to Maria Rotzén Östlund, an infectious disease physician with Region Stockholm. The condition of hospitalized patients varies, with some already recovering from their symptoms.

The restaurant's co-owner and chef Joakim Almquist expressed shock at the situation, stating in an email that the establishment is "distressed by what has occurred and hopes those affected recover quickly." Guests from multiple regions including Gothenburg, Örebro, and Uppsala have been identified among those infected, with many reporting severe illness lasting several days. One complainant described the experience as "torture," noting that they and their spouse had never felt so ill for such an extended period.

Coco & Carmen has temporarily closed during the investigation but is expected to reopen next week. Health authorities note that while listeria outbreaks in restaurants are uncommon, previous cases have been documented in medical literature. The exact source of the contamination remains unknown, though some guests have speculated about potential issues with shrimp served as part of the 14-course tasting menu that appears common to all complaints.