SwedishNews

Bleak outlook. Face lift for Avenyn. 230 cinnamon buns a year. 

• Bleak outlook
  Last year 71,000 employees in Sweden were cut from their jobs, and at least the same number is expected to be given notices this year, according to a survey by Kungliga Ingenjörsvetenskapsakademien (the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences) and consulting company Axholmen. The reason is many companies have a bleak outlook on the development of Sweden and Europe. Three out of four companies plan to become more effective this year, and about a quarter of them will do so by reducing staff, about the same as last year.

• Face lift for Avenyn
  The main street in Göteborg, Kungsportsavenyn—or commonly, just "Avenyn"—is about to get a face lift. "It's a worn down street, and it gives as straggly impression," says architect Kajsa Räntfors, project leader for the repair, which is planned to be done by 2017. One of three proposals is to be selected, and cities like New York, London and Barcelona have added inspiration. The three proposals are "Dandy" the elegant avenue, "Fenix" the park avenue, and "Robyn" the world star. "Dandy" would mean an elegant avenue with permanent porches, "Fenix" a green avenue for strolling, and "Robyn" an avenue or stage on which to see and be seen.

• 230 cinnamon buns a year
  Swedes are getting heavier. From 1980 to 2010, the consumption of pastries and cookies increased more than 300 percent—from 2.7 kilos (5.9 pounds) to 11.5 kilos (25.3) per person per year, according to new statistics from SCB (Statistics Sweden). Translating these figures into cinnamon buns alone, it means every Swede consumes 230 cinnamon buns (the beloved "kanelbulle") a year. The reason for this increase is difficult to say, but the coffee house culture has really taken hold all across the country, and the size of pastries has gotten bigger. The new statistics also shows that the average Swedish family eats 1.2 kilos (2.6 pounds) of candy per week. Swedes eat more meat today than they did 30 years ago, and also more cream. It is possible that diet trends such as LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) and GI (low glycemic diet) have something to do with this, as well. The result, according to a larger study by Livsmedelsverket (the Swedish National Food Administration) is that more than 50 percent of all Swedes are overweight today.