Eastern Europe

Depopulation in Poland from 2021-2040 will be the result of negative natural change, with rising death rates and reduced births. Ageing will continue, with almost a quarter of the population being 65+ by 2040. Women will increasingly aim to establish…

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,…

In 2023, polishes registered a marginal uplift in retail volume growth compared to the previous year. However, most consumers focused on buying essential home care products, with polishes being seen as less important. In a difficult economic climate…

Polishes in Bulgaria continued to lose retail volume sales in 2023. As rising prices impacted consumers' budgets, many adjusted their spending, focusing on essentials. Many consumers do not consider polishes essential, with consumers removing the…

The economic impact of measures introduced to limit the spread of COVID-19, along with soaring inflation in 2023, have undermined consumer confidence and purchasing power. As a result, many consumers remain focused on spending on essential items. At…

Overall, polishes registered marginal volume growth in 2023, as well as a fall in constant value sales, as continuing rising costs hit profit margins. Furniture polish was the strongest performer in terms of value and volume growth, with metal polish…

Stable volume growth was registered by polishes, with the growth of modern retailing playing a key factor in its development. Georgians remain quite conservative and tend to purchase more generic home care products. Thus, polishes are not very…

Despite rising retail value sales in 2023, polishes lost consumer attention, with significant price increases hindering sales, leading to a retail volume decline in all areas, apart from shoe polish. In addition to rising price points, manufacturers…

Shoe polish experienced the most rapid growth in volume terms in 2023. This market expansion can be attributed to the rising population, primarily driven by the influx of Ukrainian refugees, contributing to Latvia's population growth. However,…

Polishes continue to see retail volume sales stagnate in 2023, as this category draws very limited consumer attention in Lithuania. In the main, locals prefer to use basic household products to clean the house. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers…

Overall polishes remained on its downward trajectory in 2023 in terms of volume sales growth, with Macedonian consumers reprioritising their purchases and eliminating those products deemed to be unnecessary, which included polishes for the most part.…

Double-digit retail value growth was registered in 2023, boosted by rising price points, while retail volume growth remained positive in all areas, bar shoe and metal polish. Furniture polish saw the largest growth, with the purpose of furniture…

The demand for polishes continued on a downward trajectory in 2023. These products were considered non-essential or obsolete by a large share of the consumer base, especially younger people. Furthermore, substitution and cannibalisation continued to…

While retail value sales were positively impacted by price increases, leading to double-digit growth, retail volume sales of polishes in Serbia were challenged. Price growth and the decline in disposable incomes led consumers to forgo the purchases…

Polishes is seeing a negative volume slump, while value sales are supported by price hikes affecting categories across home care as a whole. Indeed, polishes represents a category which consumers can easily substitute – especially with the growing…

Inflationary pressures are propelling the growth of polishes sales in Slovenia, primarily driven by increased unit prices. With consumers becoming more cautious about their spending, they are opting for cheaper alternatives, such as ordinary cleaning…

While polishes recorded strong retail growth in 2023, retail volume sales struggled, declining in all areas, bar metal polish, which saw stagnate growth. The economic impact of the rising cost of living has undermined consumer confidence and…

Shoe polish recorded the slowest decline in volume sales within polishes overall in 2023. Despite changing consumer preferences and a trend towards sport and casual footwear that may require less frequent polishing, certain market segments still…

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…

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…

With the pandemic being declared over by the World Health Organisation in early 2023 most consumers have now returned to their old lifestyles and behaviour. The rising mobility of the population has helped to drive strong demand for wireless speakers…

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…

In January 2023, the previously separate pockets - accommodation, hospitality and leisure - were consolidated; therefore, the charges associated with these sectors are now aggregated and considered together. Also, in order to expedite the use of…

Against the backdrop of double-digit inflation in Poland, employees are increasingly interested in non-wage benefits that can help mitigate the rising cost of living. Many companies are responding to this pressing need by expanding the range of…

Pre-paid cards are experiencing significant growth in 2023, encompassing a surge in the number of cards in circulation, the volume of transactions, and their overall value. This surge is primarily attributed to the remarkable growth potential…

Pre-paid cards continued to perform well in 2023, with the number of cards in circulation rising steadily and transaction values registering double-digit growth. Digital solutions are performing well in pre-paid cards with Revolut, for example, using…

Value sales of premium and luxury cars grew by 8% to total PLN25 billion in 2023 due to rising demand from higher-income consumers, with expenditure proving resilient despite wider macroeconomic headwinds. Premium and luxury cars offer exceptional…

Retail current value sales of premium and luxury cars rose by 3% in 2023 to reach RON4.3 billion, aided by augmented demand from affluent buyers despite macroeconomic challenges. Wealth determines the degree of demand that exists for premium and…

Premium beauty and personal care continued to advance sales and has faced uninterrupted growth since the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant unit price increases have fuelled sales as inflation remains stubbornly high in Bosnia and Herzegovina.…

Premium beauty and personal care recorded a strong performance in 2023, despite the high inflation and economic instability in the country. Bulgarian consumers showed an increased interest in premium products, with strong double-digit value growth in…

The long-term premiumisation trend continued to have an influence on sales across numerous categories of beauty and personal care during 2023. The segment of the local population that can easily afford premium products remains quite small, although…

In 2023, the premium beauty and personal care landscape in Estonia showcased strong growth, with retail value growth above mass beauty and personal care products. As consumers become increasingly educated about the ingredients in skin care, premium…

With inflation easing in 2023, premium beauty and personal care in Georgia performed well, registering higher value growth than mass. Increasing numbers of tourists, as well as newly-arrived Russian immigrants also contributed to growth. That being…

Premium beauty and personal care saw dynamic growth in current value terms in 2023 despite the challenging economic environment and soaring inflation. Consumers of premium beauty personal care products were more accepting of price increases due to a…

The premium segment represents a relatively small proportion of beauty and personal care in Latvia. Nonetheless, in value terms, premium products are growing at almost twice the pace of mass products. Consumer preferences for premium products is well…

In 2023, premium beauty and personal care sales recorded very strong double-digit retail value growth, with purchasing power improving compared to the previous year. In the ongoing pandemic aftermath, many consumers were keen to treat themselves to…

Performance was muted for premium beauty and personal care in North Macedonia in 2023. Inflation continued to be high and rising costs hit profit margins. With this backdrop, current value sales of premium beauty and personal care products increased…

Premium beauty and personal care saw another year of dynamic double-digit current value growth in Poland in 2023, although from a lower base than the mass segment. The momentum of the premium segment was higher than the mass segment, and in fact…

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…

Premium beauty and personal care in Serbia continued its impressive ascent in 2023, characterised by stable double-digit growth in retail value sales. This upward trajectory was predominantly underpinned by a strategic price increase strategy adopted…

Premium skin and sun care in Slovakia recorded strong growth in 2023 despite challenging inflation. Over the review period, premium skin care has established a solid position among Slovak consumers. There has been a gradual increase in premium brands…

In 2023, some of the best performing categories in beauty and personal care in Slovenia were those with a relatively high proportion of premium brands, notably skin care and fragrances. The products in these categories are increasingly seen as…

Premium beauty and personal care continued to see strong current value growth in the Czech Republic in 2023, moving even further beyond pre-pandemic levels. Rising average unit prices were key to growth during the year, driven by the high rate of…

During 2023, there was a strong recovery in premium beauty and personal care value sales after the steep decline registered a year earlier, with a particularly dynamic performance being seen in demand for dermocosmetic products. Consumers were…

Consumer demand for processed fruit and vegetables remains stable in 2023, with robust levels of consumption across all categories. While consumer demand for shelf stable fruit is stalling, sales of frozen fruit and frozen processed vegetables…

The consumption of processed fruit and vegetables in Bulgaria increased slightly in 2023, mainly due to the growing need for convenience amid busier lifestyles and rising urbanization. Furthermore, the growing number of people living alone is driving…

Within processed fruit and vegetables, frozen variants are expected to see the strongest current retail value sales growth in Croatia in 2023. The popularity of these products can be attributed to many factors, including their long shelf life, which…

Shelf stable fruit and vegetables is enjoying strong growth volume growth in 2023, as Estonians spend less time canning fruit and vegetables at home. Shelf stable tomatoes is witnessing the highest demand, since these are more frequently used in…

In 2023, shelf stable fruits and vegetables retained their position as the leading category within processed fruits and vegetables, in volume terms. Positive growth was also witnessed in shelf stable fruits and vegetables, primarily due to strong…

Shelf stable vegetables in Hungary has continued to witness steep unit price hikes in 2023 due to inflationary pressures fuelled by the global recovery from the pandemic, the fallout of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the devaluation of the forint.…