Eastern Europe

Forecourt retailers is maintaining solid growth, after recovering from its declines during the era of pandemic restrictions. Within this environment, in March 2023, it was revealed that MOL Group has sold 39 service stations to Shell in Slovenia, as…

In 2022, though there was double-digit growth in current value sales, growth in constant value sales

Non-grocery retail is seeing robust double-digit growth in 2022, stimulated by the return to out-of-home lifestyles following the era of the pandemic restrictions. This is also notably supported by the ongoing economic recovery in Slovenia. Inflation…

E-commerce registered double-digit current value growth in 2022, as well as healthy constant value growth, in spite of high inflation. The high inflation was due to the war in Ukraine, which led to soaring energy prices, which in turn led to higher…

E-commerce is the big winner in retail, with the channel stimulated by the event of the pandemic, and with consumers continuing to embrace all the benefits which online shopping offers. Indeed, it is consumer satisfaction in e-commerce in Slovenia…

Performance was muted for retailers in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2022. Though there was double-digit growth in current value sales, there was only a minimal increase in constant value sales, as inflation dampened volume sales significantly.…

Retail in Slovenia is being supported by the return to out-of-home lifestyles in 2022, following the pandemic restrictions which stretched into 2021. Retail e-commerce is the big winner, as this channel was notably enhanced by the era of the pandemic…

The world is rapidly evolving due economic, political, geographic and climate changes. This is contributing to a change in consumer’s habit and behaviour as they try to keep pace with these newer developments. Deeper understanding of these changes…

This report assesses the business environment in North Macedonia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

Poland’s strategic geographical position makes logistics and trade of key importance and a strength for the country, with exports accounting for a half of its GDP. Innovation is also a strength, with the budget for research and development as a…

This report assesses the business environment in Latvia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

This report assesses the business environment in Lithuania, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

This report assesses the business environment in Serbia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

Bulgaria continues to rank among the top third countries globally in the Index of Economic Freedom, supported by a low tax burden and good fiscal health. Bulgaria remains an attractive investment destination, recording a considerably increasing…

High investment and financial freedoms, a low tax burden, a good geographical location, and increasing potential for innovations have contributed to a favourable business environment in Hungary. However, the country’s government spending and fiscal…

This report assesses the business environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT…

This report assesses the business environment in Croatia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

This report assesses the business environment in Slovakia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

This report assesses the business environment in Slovenia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

Increased economic uncertainty, digitisation of business activities, the need to improve operational efficiency, and stricter regulations encourage companies to review their supply networks and fortify them against the potential risks in the future.…

This report assesses the business environment in Georgia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many Polish consumers have adopted more thorough and more regular cleaning routines, boosting sales of surface care products. PET and HDPE bottles are the leading pack types in surface care as they are able to offer a…

Continuing depopulation in Hungary in 2021-2040 will be driven by natural decrease. Ageing will accelerate, affecting consumer trends and putting pressure on state finances. Urbanisation will quicken and Budapest will continue to be the most populous…

This report assesses the business environment in Estonia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

Although direct selling saw dynamic growth in current value terms in 2022 this was actually barely above inflation levels. In 2021 direct selling in Serbia started on the path to recovery from the hit it took during the first year of the COVID-19…

This report provides a global overview of commodity market trends from 2017 through to 2022, including price forecasts up to 2024 for the key commodities in the Agriculture, Energy and Metals sectors. Insights analyse long-term global trends that can…

New store openings within the modern grocery retailers channel helped fuel growth in current value terms in 2022, albeit the number small local grocers and food/drink/tobacco specialists declined. For example, Delhaize Serbia, the second largest…

As COVID-19 fears subsided and restrictions were eased some non-grocery retailers saw a boost to sales, but especially those channels related to activities outside the home. For example, with consumers starting to travel home and abroad again there…

Retail e-commerce in Serbia continued to see dynamic growth in 2022, even outpacing the sharp spike in growth seen in 2020 following the outbreak of COVID-19. Retail e-commerce in Serbia has grown considerably since the start of the pandemic, with…

Retail e-commerce continued to see more dynamic growth than offline retail in 2022 in current value terms with companies continuing to invest in setting up, expanding and improving their online presence. Local and international retailers have been…

In 2022, the Czech Republic had a business-friendly environment, with efficient banking and a free trade policy, allowing for easy access to financing and few barriers to the import and export of goods and services. The country has a high FDI…

Natural decrease will be the main driver of depopulation in Latvia in 2021-2040. Low birth rates and climbing longevity will result in an acceleration of ageing, impacting consumers trends and placing an increasing burden on state resources. Latvia’s…

Romania ranks among the top third of countries globally in the Index of Economic Freedom, supported by a favourable tax system and low barriers to trade. In addition, a supportive business environment, advancing labour market regulations and…

Liquid and tablet detergents were products within laundry care seeing a strong development in volume sales terms in Romania in 2022. In keeping with the growing complexity of consumers and their need for increasingly innovative products, several…

Ageing, urbanisation, migration, and the generational shift continue to shape Poland's demographic landscape. The number of seniors in Poland will notably increase through to 2040. The influence of Millennials on consumer preferences will solidify,…

Direct selling exceeded pre-pandemic sales in 2022 as the channel sought to recover from the severe impact of restrictions on selling door-to-door. However, much of the current value growth in 2022 was driven by higher retail prices as inflation took…

In 2022, though there was healthy growth in current value sales, constant value sales remained unchanged. The war in Ukraine had a negative impact, with the resultant energy crisis leading to soaring inflation and dampening sales somewhat. That being…

In light of inflationary pressures, consumers have become increasingly discerning and cost-conscious in 2022. Grocery retailers have navigated this more complex climate by implementing various measures to address changing preferences, such as…

In 2022, though there was healthy growth in current value sales, constant value sales fell. The war in Ukraine had a negative impact, with the resultant energy crisis leading to soaring inflation and dampening volume sales. In addition, there was…

Croatia has largely recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, with the boost in summer tourism supporting sales growth in non-grocery retailing. Tourism is an important part of the local economy, but the pandemic restrictions had stifled visitor numbers…

In 2022, though there was healthy growth in current value sales, constant value sales fell. The war in Ukraine had a negative impact, with the resultant energy crisis leading to soaring inflation and dampening volume sales. With such economic…

E-commerce continued to gain significant value share in 2022 as part of the ongoing development of this category. Many consumers sought out cheaper prices online as the cost of living crisis hit many Croatian households. On balance, Croatia is seeing…

E-commerce registered double-digit current value growth in 2022, as well as healthy constant value growth, in spite of high inflation. The high inflation was due to the war in Ukraine, which led to soaring energy prices, which in turn led to higher…

Croatians were impacted by rising inflation in 2022 and faced a cost of living crisis similar to many shoppers across Europe. As the economy started to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and rising costs of energy and raw materials…

The war in Ukraine had a negative impact, with the resultant energy crisis leading to high inflation and dampening volume sales somewhat. As a result, while overall retail registered a healthy increase in current value sales in 2022, constant value…

The number of Poland's households will experience a slight increase over 2022-2027, with single-person households continuing to dominate. In 2022, household spending was notably affected by soaring inflation and rising interest rates, with a fifth of…

Warsaw and Lódz, Poland's thriving urban hubs, benefit from strong productivity, elevated consumer spending, and extensive service industries. Moreover, Lódz displays the highest potential for future economic expansion. However, challenges for the…

Consumer Types can be a powerful tool to help companies better understand and appeal to their target markets. By going beyond typical demographic-based segmentation, such as age or gender, and grouping consumers based on shared traits and…

Sales of consumer electronics were negatively impacted as consumers cut down on discretionary purchases as prices of electronics products escalated despite the economic uncertainties.

Companies face numerous challenges in 2023 after recent record-breaking sales. They include weakened demand, high interest rates on debts, and tighter consumer credit conditions. Elevated inventory levels are also of concern.