Norway’s cross-border shopping saw fewer trips to Sweden in 2025, but each trip cost more. Fresh data from Statistics Norway (SSB) shows Norwegians made just over 5 million day trips across the border last year—a 2.5% drop from 2024. Yet average spending per trip rose to 2,250 kroner, up by more than 100 kroner from the previous year.
Fewer Trips, Heavier Wallets
The shift reflects a clear trend: Norwegians are cutting back on how often they cross into Sweden but are spending more when they do. Total spending reached 11.3 billion kroner in 2025, despite fewer visits. Guro Henriksen of SSB explained, “We traveled on fewer day trips across the border, but spent more money. This suggests we left more money on each shopping trip.”
A weaker Norwegian krone played a major role. With the Swedish krona strengthening against Norway’s currency, every 100 kroner buys less in Sweden than it did a year ago. At the same time, Swedish consumer prices rose—especially for everyday items like soft drinks and coffee, which saw steeper hikes than general inflation.
Price Pressures on Both Sides
In Sweden, food prices climbed 3.1% in 2025, according to Sweden’s statistics agency SCB. Back home, Norwegians also faced rising costs. Domestic prices increased 3.6% year-over-year by January 2026, with groceries up 4%. The parallel inflation means cross-border savings are shrinking—even as shoppers try to stretch their budgets.
Despite higher spending overall, Norwegians actually bought slightly less food in Sweden last year. Spending on groceries dropped by over 200 million kroner compared to 2024. Still, food and daily essentials remained the top purchase category, making up 40% of all border shopping.
Fuel Drives New Surge
One category bucked the trend: fuel. Cross-border fuel purchases jumped 33% in 2025 alone. Since Swedish authorities lowered fuel taxes at the start of 2024, Norwegian demand surged. From 2023 to 2025, fuel-related border shopping grew by 300%, SSB reports.
This shift highlights how policy changes in one country directly affect consumer behavior in another. Lower Swedish fuel duties created a powerful incentive for Norwegians—especially those living near the border—to fill up south of the line.
Østfold Leads the Way
Residents of Østfold spent the most on border shopping in 2025, totaling nearly 2.7 billion kroner. Their proximity to Sweden makes frequent trips practical, and towns like Strömstad bear the brunt of this traffic. SSB notes that half of all Norwegian border shopping occurs in the Strömstad region, where Swedish retailers have adapted to the influx.
Major shopping centers there—including Nordby, Töcksfors, and Charlottenberg—reported record sales in 2025. Together, these three malls generated 9 billion kroner in revenue, much of it from Norwegian customers. The Thon Group, which co-owns ten shopping centers in Sweden, benefits directly from this flow.
What’s in the Cart?
While food remains the dominant purchase, its share is under pressure. Higher Swedish grocery prices and a weaker krone mean Norwegians get fewer items for the same amount of money. A shopper who once returned with a full cart may now come back with less—even if they spent more.
Alcohol-free beverages and coffee saw some of the sharpest price increases in Sweden, hitting regular cross-border shoppers hard. These are staple buys for many Norwegians seeking cheaper alternatives to high domestic markups.
Meanwhile, non-food categories like clothing, electronics, and household goods haven’t offset the decline in grocery volume. Fuel stands out as the only rapidly growing segment, driven entirely by tax policy rather than consumer preference.
Economic Ripple Effects
The 11.3 billion kroner Norwegians spent in Sweden represents more than personal savings—it’s a significant economic transfer. Swedish border towns rely on this revenue, employing locals and funding infrastructure. Conversely, Norwegian municipalities lose potential tax income and retail activity.
For years, border shopping has functioned as an informal pressure valve for Norway’s high-cost economy. But with inflation rising on both sides and exchange rates working against Norwegian buyers, that relief is fading. Fewer trips and higher per-trip costs suggest consumers are adjusting—but not necessarily saving.
Retailers in eastern Norway feel the strain. Local grocers compete not just with Swedish prices but with the convenience of bundled trips that include fuel, food, and other goods. Some have responded with loyalty programs or price-matching guarantees, though margins remain tight.