Eastern Europe

The number of households is set to slightly decrease, while the average household size will remain unchanged in Croatia over 2023-2028. Couples with children will remain the dominant household type but the fastest household expenditure growth is…

In 2023, there were no sharp changes in excise tax or, therefore, product prices in tobacco in Croatia. More stable prices helped to avoid declines in retail volume sales at the end of the review period. However, the growth in retail volume sales of…

Smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in Croatia performed well overall in 2023, although chewing tobacco and moist snuff remained negligible. Both e-vapour products and heated tobacco are on an upward retail volume sales…

Cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco in Croatia continued to see retail volume growth in 2023. The growing interest in cigars among a wider range of consumers pushed up retail volume sales. Previously, cigars were predominantly smoked by…

Despite continuously rising prices, cigarettes in Croatia saw a further increase in retail volume sales in 2023, albeit a moderate upturn and significantly slower than in 2021 and 2022. Croatia is one of the rare EU markets that is seemingly showing…

In 2023, tobacco in the Czech Republic continued to develop towards newer product types with perceived less harmful effects on health. Regular cigarettes remained the largest category, but retail volume sales continued on a strong downward…

Tobacco in Bulgaria witnessed robust growth in 2023, with retail volume growth driven largely by the growing appeal of alternative products in the form of e-vapour products and heated tobacco. Cigarette smoking remains very popular due to its low…

In 2023, Bosnia and Herzegovina witnessed significant changes in its tobacco landscape, marked by declining smoking prevalence and notable economic factors influencing consumer behaviour. A growing health consciousness among the population has led to…

Sunglasses continue to exhibit robust growth in eyewear in Poland in 2024, albeit at a slightly slower pace compared to the previous year. Despite economic challenges stemming from the cost-of-living crisis, the category remains one of the…

In 2024, spectacle lenses maintained their position as the primary growth driver within spectacles, surpassing frames and readymade reading glasses in both retail value and volume terms. The necessity for regular replacement of spectacle lenses due…

Smokeless tobacco, heated tobacco and e-vapour products in Bulgaria posted dynamic growth despite rising unit prices across all categories. The growing popularity of such products has led to higher excise duty on e-liquids and nicotine free liquids,…

In 2023, retail value sales of e-vapour products and heated tobacco recorded double-digit growth in Bosnia Herzegovina. While the smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption, including illicit trade, continue to decline in the country, two other…

Smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in the Czech Republic continued to develop at the end of the review period. As heated tobacco products are viewed by some as the “future of smoking”, it is essential for the major players to…

In 2024, eyewear in Poland continued its upward trajectory, particularly in areas such as daily disposable and frequent replacement lenses. Daily disposable lenses, driven by a growing number of individuals with vision impairments, emerged as the…

In 2024, contact lenses and solutions in Poland experienced a subtle yet significant shift influenced by demographic and lifestyle factors. The country's inflation slowdown contributed to a marginal increase in average unit prices within the…

Overall, cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco in the Czech Republic registered a moderate decrease in retail volume sales in 2023. However, this was mainly due to the decrease in retail volume sales of fine cut tobacco, which dominates in terms of…

The economy segment of cigars and cigarillos in Bulgaria has been most heavily impacted by the rising cost of living and high rate of inflation in 2023. The large consumer base of cigar and cigarillo smokers are switching to cheaper alternatives,…

Cigars and cigarillos continued to achieve moderate double-digit retail volume growth in Bosnia Herzegovina in 2023 as consumer demand among niche consumer groups and cigar aficionados remained stable. Both the cigars and cigarillos categories remain…

A worsening economic situation in 2023 had a significant effect on cigarettes in the Czech Republic. While lower than in 2022, the rate of inflation in the Czech Republic remained high, exerting upward pressure on production and transportation costs…

Cigarette consumption in Bulgaria recorded a marginal decline in 2023. The switch to alternative products among younger adults, such as heated tobacco products and single use cigarettes, has become very popular over the last year. Millennials and Gen…

Smoking prevalence in Bosnia and Herzegovina has continued to decline throughout the review period, a trend that persisted into 2023, exerting a downward pressure on cigarette consumption. This decline is attributed to a growing number of…

In 2023, Romania’s GDP growth slowed to 2.0%, slightly below the Eastern European average, weighed down by elevated inflation and slowing private spending growth. However, economic growth is projected to accelerate in 2024, supported by the European…

In 2023, Hungary’s economy contracted, hindered by sluggish consumption and investment, as well as high inflation. However, an economic recovery is expected in 2024, supported by rising foreign investment, lower commodity prices and improved…

In 2023, Poland’s GDP growth slowed sharply to 0.1%, due to reduced household spending and public consumption amid the environment of surging inflation, despite a boost from increased capital formation and exports. The economy is predicted to rebound…

Video games hardware experienced remarkable growth in 2023 in Ukraine, largely driven by the rebound in imports compared to the previous year, resulting in the resurgence of leading companies like Sony Ukraine TOV. Notably, Sony Ukraine TOV witnessed…

Video games in Romania continued to experience dynamic current value growth in 2023. On the one hand, the improving technological infrastructure in the country and the rising popularity of gaming across all age groups were key positive factors. On…

Robust sales continue for video games in Poland in 2023, showing ongoing resilience despite inflationary pressures. That said, economic uncertainty has resulted in consumers becoming more selective in their purchases, prioritising value and quality.…

In 2023, there was a surge in the popularity of traditional toys that appealed not only to children but also to adults in Ukraine, particularly in the construction category. This surge was primarily fuelled by the relaunch of LEGO Ukraina TOV in…

Traditional toys and games in Romania maintained double-digit current value growth in 2023, with increases seen across all categories. Premiumisation remains a key trend in Romania, but traditional toys and games is a category which is still flooded…

Traditional toys and games in Poland maintained healthy growth in 2023, despite the landscape being shaped by inflation and geopolitical uncertainties which have influenced consumer spending habits overall. Despite these challenges, the category…

In 2023, toys and games in Ukraine witnessed a significant increase in value, with video games hardware emerging as the primary driving force behind this growth. Several factors contributed to this notable upswing. Firstly, there was a discernible…

Toys and games in Romania experienced dynamic current value growth in 2023, with double-digit increases seen for both traditional toys and games, and video games. Growth was due to improving living standards and changing consumer lifestyles, as well…

Toys and games in Poland maintained robust sales in 2023, in part driven by the significant growth of online games and subscriptions. This surge is largely due to the increasing shift towards digital platforms in general, as consumers engage with…

The economic growth in the Czech Republic slowed down in real terms in 2022, due to decelerated private spending amid soaring inflation. Global economic slowdown, elevated inflationary pressures and tightening financial conditions are set to continue…

The report examines the global landscape of EV charging, comparing its development against the rising uptake of EVs. It then takes a deep dive into EV charging trends across select major economies, delving into the competitive landscape and…

The report examines the economic landscape of Bulgaria and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade, investments, and government finance. The economy in Bulgaria expanded in real terms in 2022, driven by private consumption…

The report examines the economic landscape of Slovenia and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade and government finance. The economy expanded in real terms in 2023, driven by exports, private consumption, government…

The report examines the economic landscape of Slovakia and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade and government finance. The economy expanded in real terms in 2023, driven by exports, investments. However, global economic…

The report examines the economic landscape of North Macedonia and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade and government finance. The economy expanded in real terms in 2023, driven by exports, private consumption. However,…

The report examines the economic landscape of Lithuania and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade and government finance. The economy contracted in real terms in 2023, dragged down by exports, private consumption.…

The report examines the economic landscape of Serbia and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade and government finance. The economy expanded in real terms in 2023, driven by exports, private consumption. However, global…

The report examines the economic landscape of Latvia and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade and government finance. The economy contracted in real terms in 2023, dragged down by exports, private consumption, government…

The report examines the economic landscape of Estonia and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade and government finance. The economy contracted in real terms in 2023, dragged down by exports, private consumption,…

The report examines the economic landscape of Croatia and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade and government finance. The economy expanded in real terms in 2023, driven by private consumption, government spending,…

The report examines the economic landscape of Georgia and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade and government finance. The economy expanded in real terms in 2023, driven by exports, private consumption, government…

The report examines the economic landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade and government finance. The economy expanded in real terms in 2023, driven by private consumption, government…

This briefing assesses global B2B market trends in 2024 and beyond. It is geared towards consumer goods companies that are selling into the B2B market, and provides insights into how B2B markets are developing, which countries and channels to target,…

In 2023, sun care in Romania witnessed another year of surging retail volume and current value sales, remaining one of the most rapidly expanding categories within beauty and personal care. Part of the reason for continued dynamism was that sales of…

Skin care was one of the most dynamic categories within beauty and personal care in 2023, experiencing robust growth in both retail volume and current value terms. Romanian consumers are increasingly interested in the regular use of skin care…

Premium beauty and personal care experienced a third year of double-digit current value growth in Romania in 2023; albeit at a lower rate than seen in the previous two years. This continued strong performance was tied to the loyalty consumers often…