Eastern Europe

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 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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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, 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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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, 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…

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 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…

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, 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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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

The number of households is set to slightly decrease, while the average household size will remain unchanged in Latvia over 2023-2028. Single person households will remain the dominant household type and the fastest household expenditure growth is…

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

In 2023, cigarettes in Estonia witnessed another year of retail volume sales decline. The downward trajectory is partly due to consumers becoming more conscious of health and therefore likely to quit the habit. However, the major reason for the fall…

The performance of cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco in Estonia in 2023 diverged according to category. Cigars and, to a much lesser extent, cigarillos saw faster retail volume growth, compared to 2022, while smoking tobacco saw a stronger…

Cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco in Hungary saw overall category volume sales fall in 2023. Volume sales of smoking tobacco continued to drop, exacerbated by a more challenging household economic situation. With lower disposable incomes and…

Smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in Estonia performed well in retail volume sales terms in 2023. E-vapour products and heated tobacco are emerging as the major competitors to regular combustible cigarettes. These product types…

Smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in Hungary in 2023 expanded in terms of volume and current value sales. By autumn 2023, all major international tobacco manufacturers had entered the heated tobacco market, with Japan…

Within tobacco in Estonia, cigarettes continued to struggle to maintain demand in 2023. Smoking prevalence in terms of cigarettes saw a further small decrease at the end of the review period. This was underpinned by heightened health concerns as well…

Tobacco in Hungary saw a decline in volume terms overall in 2023, attributed to several and various factors. Despite price hikes that remained below the annual inflation rate, the market's largest segments struggled to stem the fall. Volume sales of…

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

The number of households is set to increase slightly, while the average household size will remain unchanged in Slovakia over 2023-2028. Single person households will remain the dominant household type and the fastest household expenditure growth is…

Tobacco in Hungary saw a decline in volume terms overall in 2023, attributed to several and various factors. Despite price hikes that remained below the annual inflation rate, the market's largest segments struggled to stem the fall. Volume sales of…

The gardening market in Poland proved to be more resilient than other categories in 2023, with high single-digit growth in current value terms. In a challenging macroeconomic environment, characterised by high inflation and a contracting housing…

The home and garden market in Poland registered a more muted performance in current value terms in 2023, when compared to the previous years of the review period. This came within a context of a challenging macroeconomic environment, with…