Helsingin Sanomat's most-read article on Monday morning reveals the extent to which consumer confidence has fallen in Finland due to continued economic uncertainty.
Some 93 percent of the 2,000 HS readers surveyed said they do not intend to increase their spending in the near future, and may even need to further tighten their belts.
Many respondents said they do not have enough money to cover their expenses as things stand, while the fear of losing their jobs as well as the effects of the government's austerity measures hang over them.
"I am a 32-year-old with a master’s degree who has never had a permanent job. My current employment will end at the end of the year. The weak situation in the job market forces me to save every extra penny," one woman tells HS.
The newspaper heard similar stories from other readers, and notes that the continued fall in consumer confidence and private consumption levels does not bode well for the country's economy.
The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (Etla) lowered its growth forecast for the nation's economy last week, saying consumers and their lack of confidence is the "weakest link" in any expected recovery.
Helsinki resident Jari Aho tells HS that he and his family have been living on a tight budget for years, ever since Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused inflation and interest rates to soar, and he currently sees no prospect of that changing any time soon.
"Even though we consumers are encouraged to increase our spending, the current situation does not inspire the confidence needed to do so. When you listen to the news and politicians, they say one thing this week and something else the next week," Aho says.
Yle News' weekly podcast All Points North asks if learning Finnish is a worthwhile endeavour. You can listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
What to do when you see flashing blue lights?
Ilta-Sanomat reports that a Facebook post by the Finnish National Rescue Association (acronymed as SPEK in Finnish) about the correct procedure for allowing an emergency service vehicle to pass has caused confusion among Finnish motorists.
"I've never even heard of that," one commenter wrote, while another said that they "don't understand the sense in this advice, and it seems that no one follows it".
The association's post advises drivers to keep a steady speed and turn on their hazard lights when an emergency vehicle is approaching from behind. The use of hazard lights was news to many people, but the post explains that it indicates to the occupants of the emergency vehicle that their presence has been noted.
"The most important thing is to act calmly and avoid sudden movements." SPEK wrote in reply to the comments, adding that "sudden braking can have life-threatening consequences."
In the video accompanying the article, SPEK spokesperson Petri Strandberg also advises motorists to always try to move to the right, and allow the emergency vehicle to pass on the left.
Stormy start to the week
Tabloid Iltalehti warns its readers to prepare for stormy conditions on Monday — especially in western and central areas in the morning and in eastern parts later in the day.
Wind gusts will intensify as the day goes on, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, and could reach up to 20 metres per second in some areas.
This is strong enough to cause trees to fall down, IL notes.
"There are still plenty of leaves on the trees and the ground isn’t frozen, so even 15 metres per second may cause damage. We’ll see how it goes during the day," a FMI spokesperson tells the paper.
The strong winds will be accompanied by heavy rainfall, which will gradually move across the country during Monday.
FMI's outlook for the rest of the week suggests cooler temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday while northern areas may even see the mercury drop below zero during the night, with snowfall also possible in the northernmost reaches of Finnish Lapland.
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