Newspaper Helsingin Sanomat continues its coverage of downbeat economic news.
The paper reports that Finns' purchasing power and income growth have fallen behind the rest of the eurozone, according to Nordea economist Juho Kostiainen.
While households' real disposable incomes across the euro area have risen by around six percent since 2019, in Finland, the increase has been a mere one percent.
Private consumption is expanding elsewhere in the bloc, unlike in Finland, where spending remains subdued. The situation of mortgage holders is particularly strained. The preference for loans tied to short-term reference rates has pushed debt-servicing costs up more sharply than in most other euro-area countries.
Finns also simply lack the money to spend. According to Kostiainen, the main factor is rising unemployment. Finland now has the second-highest unemployment rate in the European Union, only slightly surpassed by Spain.
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Going postal for Posti
The public offering of Finland's postal service, Posti, was suspended on Monday after being oversubscribed multiple times, reports Talouselämä.
The minimum subscription was 100 shares, corresponding to a minimum investment of 750 euros at the offer price of 7.50 euros per share.
Trading in the company's shares will begin this Friday.
The institutional offering and employee share issue, however, are still ongoing.
According to the business magazine, the state expects to receive net proceeds of around 96.7 million from the public and institutional offerings. Posti anticipates paying about 3.4 million in fees, expenses and transfer taxes related to the sale.
Eyes to the skies
The Lemmon comet, which last passed close to the Sun in the 7th century, will grace the skies again around the turn of October and November, reports Iltalehti.
The comet is already visible over Finland using magnification, but by the end of October, it should become bright enough to be seen with the naked eye.
Veikko Mäkelä, a comet expert at the Finnish astronomical association Ursa, said Lemmon will likely be visible from this Friday onward. Skywatchers across both northern and southern Finland will have the chance to enjoy the spectacle.
The best time to catch a glimpse will be between 20 October and 5 November.
Lemmon originates from a distant region beyond Neptune, home to countless icy bodies. The comet last swung past the Sun some 1,350 years ago, and its next visit is not expected for another 1,150 years.
