Eastern Europe

Sweet biscuits, snacks bars and fruit snacks is expected to be the strongest performing snack in 2023, with healthy constant value growth, as well as modest volume growth. That being said, inflation is expected to still be an issue, though its growth…

Volume sales of computers were impacted by several negative factors in 2023, including high maturity. Also, the surge in volume sales during the pandemic as people hurriedly tried to set up home offices meant that computers bought during that period…

High inflation affected volume sales of consumer electronics in Hungary in 2023. While strong value growth was recorded, overall volume sales were flat, with a weaker performance in the first half of the year. Strong demand for consumer electronics…

Whilst premium wireless headbands were popular during COVID-19 as they had more convenient features for both work and gaming, high inflation and rising prices deterred consumers from paying extra for them in 2023, therefore mass products performed…

Home audio and cinema recorded strong volume decline in 2023 as these products faced competition from wireless sound systems, the increasing sound quality of portable computers and smartphones, and a growing preference for compact and interior…

Televisions recorded slight volume growth in 2023, with OLED TVs seeing strong double-digit growth as consumers looked to upgrade their older televisions with screens offering high picture and sound quality, which are light and have more…

Volume sales of imaging devices again fell by a fifth in 2023 and value sales also registered decline. Continuing advances in smartphones’ cameras are leading to continual decline in imaging devices, to the extent that some smartphones can meet the…

In-car entertainment recorded further decline in 2023, negatively impacted by fewer sales of new cars due to a shortage of key parts and components needed for their manufacture, which also drove up prices in the year. Consumers had to wait a long…

Significant price rises and a high penetration rate in Hungary resulted in volume decline in smartphones in 2023. Fewer consumers were able to replace their smartphone and chose to postpone their purchases until prices were more stable, or they…

Portable players were hard to find in retail channels in 2023 and their sales were negligible as technology advances are leading to portable player devices becoming obsolete. In particular smartphone and tablets are replacing the need for portable…

Activity watches (analogue) were increasingly popular and recorded the highest volume growth in 2023 as these products are readily available and consumers prefer them to other activity bands without displays and traditional watches as they offer…

Decline in volume sales terms was seen across the board in computers and peripherals in 2023. Consumers’ financial difficulties and low confidence due to the weak economic situation it the country and rising cost of living meant they delayed…

Monitors saw volume sales dip slightly in 2023 with business upgrades the main category growth driver. Overall, volume sales of monitors remain well above pre-pandemic levels following the strong growth in 2020 and 2021 as lockdowns encouraged sales…

Poland’s economy experienced both challenges and opportunities amidst a backdrop of various current affairs. The country faced ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continued to impact economic activity and create uncertainty. The…

The overwhelming optimism brought forth by end of the COVID-19 pandemic has been quickly hampered by a period of high inflation, rising energy costs and the war in Ukraine. Amid this climate, consumer electronics is witnessing a sizeable contraction…

Headphones registered further growth in Poland in 2023, mainly driven by new product development in terms of technology. Active noise cancellation (ANC) is particularly demanded when working from home or in an open office. Quality of sound is another…

Retail volume sales of headphones have decelerated over the review period, with growth slowing substantially in 2023. Demand for headphones is closely connected to that of smartphones, which suffered a decline in 2023 as consumers put off new phone…

High inflation and the unfavourable economic conditions in Poland impacted purchases of home audio and cinema in Poland in 2023. With the high cost of living, consumers focused on saving and keeping their spending, especially on high-end products…

Already facing long-term decline, home audio and cinema is facing weaker demand for specific audio devices in 2023, as music consumption continues to shift to smartphones and wireless speakers. The shift back to outdoor and out of home entertainment…

The market for LCD TVs has become saturated in recent years with many consumers already owning at least one. In Poland it is common for households to have more than one television, especially among consumers with a lower socioeconomic status.…

The majority of TVs sold in Czech households have been replaced in recent years partly due to compliance with the new broadcast standard DVB-T2. With the wider offer of video-on-demand services, content in high definition, and the more frequent use…

Imaging devices continued to record declining volume sales in 2023, predominantly due to a strong fall in sales of digital cameras, which are more frequently being replaced by alternative devices. The rise of smartphones with advanced camera…

Volume sales of digital cameras continues to fall in 2023, as competition from smartphones devastates this category. Smartphones have been a threat to this category for years, as their devices offer high-quality images and recording with increased…

Further decline in both the new and second-hand cars market has impacted demand for in-car entertainment products in Poland in 2023. A shortage of essential parts and components affected sales of new cars in the year, resulting in strong demand for…

In recognition of its long-term decline, in-car entertainment manufacturers are limiting their investments and fewer launches are occurring. The lingering economic uncertainty following the pandemic, compounded by global inflation and the war in…

Smartphones witnessed volume decline in 2023, which is partly due to high market saturation, but also due to the fact that there has not been any significant innovation recently to attract consumers. Consumers are consequently satisfied with their…

Smartphones volume sales are declining for a second consecutive year in 2023. Supply side issues were problematic in 2022, with the global microchip shortage and rising overall production costs pushing up prices. In 2023, the volume decline is being…

Portable players recorded further growth in 2023, with wireless speakers driving this sales increase, as these products continue to attract consumer interest. Consumers are keen on the high quality of the sound they offer, we well as their advanced…

Portable players continue to grow in Czech Republic, although retail volume sales are driven exclusively by wireless speakers. E-readers continued to be substituted with smartphones and tablets, with volume sales continuing to decline. Czech…

Smart wearables are seeing continuous, strong growth in 2023. The growing focus on health and wellness is a significant driver for smart wearables in Poland. Consumers are increasingly interested in monitoring their physical activity, heart rate,…

Difficult macroeconomic conditions and a high level of sales in the previous year mostly resulted in retail volume decline in 2023. Sales of wearable electronics are closely linked to the sale of smartphones, which did not perform well either.…

In 2023, chocolate confectionery is witnessing low and stable retail volume growth, despite the ongoing inflationary pressures in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As seen during past financial crises, affordable treats, such as chocolate confectionery, can…

Chocolate confectionery is witnessing a more upbeat performance in 2023, with retail volume sales returning to growth. There has been a significant number of new chocolate products launched in 2023, which has captured consumer interest and boosted…

In 2023, gum saw minimal decline in retail volume terms due to diminishing consumer demand for products in this category. Health and wellness trends and changing consumer preferences are diverting consumers away from gum and towards healthier snack…

Gum continues to gradually recover from the pandemic in 2023, although retail volume sales are still declining marginally. Gum increasingly has a bad name, due to its high sugar content and bad environmental reputation in terms of disposability, and…

Ice cream is enjoying robust growth in 2023, with retail volume and current value sales surpassing pre-pandemic sales thanks to a strong rebound in consumer demand. More frequent new product launches and the premiumisation trend is stimulating ice…

Consumer demand for ice cream remains strong in 2023, even after the category’s full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The scorching heat in 2023 has led to high demand for ice cream driving up impulse purchases. Inflation and rising unit prices…

Savoury snacks continues to grow moderately in 2023 in retail volume terms, due to stable consumer demand in the post-pandemic period. Rising unit prices and inflation are the main contributing factors to the double-digit current value growth.…

Savoury snacks is witnessing moderate volume growth in 2023 as the category recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Inflation and rising energy prices caused by the war in Ukraine have driven up unit prices and is a major cause of supply chain…

Snacks continues its strong recovery in 2023, thanks to a period of stable consumer demand in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the post-pandemic period. Despite the rising costs of living, snacks have remained a popular option on the household shopping…

Snacks continues to make a robust recovery in 2023. Consumer demand for snacks is stabilising and the category is much closer to pre-pandemic sales in retail volume terms, which should be reached in 2024. Snacks is among the most dynamic packaged…

In 2023, sugar confectionery faces further decline in retail volume sales, as consumers reduce consumption amid the growing focus on health and wellbeing. Consumers are opting for higher nutritional value snacks and less sugar in their diet, which…

Healthy eating is taking a higher priority with consumers increasingly shunning sugar confectionery due to its high sugar content and limited value-added properties. As a result, retail volume sales are declining for the fourth consecutive year in…

Sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks achieved a better performance in retail volume terms in 2023, despite the ongoing issue of inflation. Consumers are opting for healthier options such as fruit snacks and snack bars, as well as more…

Sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks saw strong double-digit current value growth in 2023, supported by stable consumer demand and rising unit prices. Inflation remains high fuelling much of the current value growth. Rising consumer demand for…

With its very low tax burden and strong state finances, Bulgaria enjoys economic freedom, although political instability has been common. High inflation is adversely affecting the economy, but joblessness remains low. Although skills shortages are…

During times of economic uncertainty, chocolate confectionery tends to cede ground to sugar confectionery in Ukraine. This is largely because of the higher prices of chocolate confectionery amid strong pressure on consumer incomes. Towards the end of…

The demand for gum in Ukraine suffered heavily in the wake of the Russian invasion of the country in 2022. This was partly because consumers in Ukraine looked to save money, and they tended to make fewer impulse purchases, which included perceived…

Like other packaged food categories, ice cream suffered in late 2022 and 2023 from electricity outages. These energy problems had strong negative impact on the manufacture and storage of frozen goods. While ice cream is set to register strong retail…

Savoury snacks can be said to have suffered most from the effects of the war in Ukraine in terms of production, supply and consumer behaviour. This is partly reflected in savoury snacks recording the highest decline in snacks in retail volume sales…