Eastern Europe

Retail value sales were positive in 2023, recording double-digit growth aligned to rising price points. This led to retail volume declines for all areas besides toilet liquids/foam. Toilet liquids/foam remained the most popular product format for…

In 2023, toilet care tablets and powders witnessed solid growth in retail value and volume sales. This surge can be attributed to the increased time consumers spend working from home, resulting in more frequent toilet usage and a heightened need for…

Toilet care posted strong retail volume and current value growth in 2023, aided by strong promotional activity from key players, including Bref from Henkel AG & Co KGaA. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, daily hygiene standards have risen with more…

Toilet care saw modest retail volume growth in 2023 against a backdrop of stable consumer demand. Due to the significantly rising unit prices and the impact of inflation, toilet care also posted robust double-digit current value growth. Innovation…

Retail value growth was double-digit in 2023, driven by rising price points and inflation. While consumers became increasingly price-conscious, retail volume growth remained positive, with the outbreak of COVID-19 having a heightened awareness of…

Overall, retail volume sales of toilet care rose moderately in 2023. As in 2022, this was due to the performance of the dominant type, toilet liquids/foam, and rim liquids, with other categories continuing to see reduced or negligible retail volume…

In 2023, growing unit prices and strengthening economising trend led consumers to reduce their purchases while focusing on essentials. As a result, toilet care saw a decline in retail volume sales in all areas while overall retail value grew. Many…

Toilet care is seeing flat volume sales, while value growth is supported by the price hikes which have affected categories across home care. While Bref (Henkel Slovensko spol sro) holds just under half of all brand shares in toilet care, followed by…

Toilet care is experiencing growth in value terms in Slovenia, spurred by factors such as inflation and heightened health and hygiene concerns among consumers. The emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic,…

Toilet care saw an uplift in sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of the crisis, sales were boosted by people being at home more often, with a higher emphasis on hygiene and increasing cleaning activities in many Czech households. With…

In a category with all members in decline, rim blocks and rim liquids posted the smallest drop in volume sales terms in 2023. Products found within these segments are often considered essential for maintaining toilet hygiene, and Ukrainian consumers…

The National Statistical Office and the Ministry of Tourism data suggest a significant increase in tourism flows as the post-COVID-19 recovery of travel and tourism in Bulgaria continues. There are no remaining active travel restrictions in place…

The big story in tourism flows in Croatia in 2023 was the huge rebound seen in inbound arrivals as the return to international travel fuelled a boom in foreign tourism worldwide, with Croatia benefiting from its burgeoning status as a very attractive…

Growth in the number of outbound departures from Hungary in 2023 looks set to be well down on the previous year. This is mainly explained by the ongoing normalisation of travel flows following the strong rebound over 2021-2022 that resulted from the…

Domestic travel is recovering at a faster rate than inbound tourism in Poland. In 2023, Polish consumers are seen to be eager to book stays in domestic tourist resorts, go on city breaks, and travel to visit family or friends and, at the same time,…

2023 saw robust growth in domestic tourism trips and outbound departures as rising demand continued to be driven by the realisation of pent-up demand following the total removal of COVID-19 restrictions from March 2022. With local consumers taking…

The war in Ukraine and the onset of the energy crisis significantly impacted inbound tourism flows in Slovakia in 2022, and its negative influence continues into 2023. Inbound flows from the US and Scandinavian markets have been hampered by the war…

Demand for domestic tourism is benefiting from changing consumer behaviour, underlined by the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic years and the economic crisis. Czech consumers increasingly prefer shorter distances-something that was preferred in the…

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…

For traditional and high-end watches, brick-and-mortar retailers remain the preferred distribution channel in Poland, with jewellery and watch specialists accounting for the large majority of sales in 2023. The tactile experience of seeing and…

The challenging economic climate has significantly impacted consumer behaviour in Romania when it comes to watches. Some consumers, whose budgets have been constrained by inflation, have opted for more affordable products or delayed their purchases,…

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…

Tourism flows have rebounded strongly during the post-COVID-19 recovery of travel and tourism in Bulgaria, with no travel restrictions being in place in 2022 or 2023. Leading scheduled, low cost and charter airlines have also increased their number…

Outbound tourism flows recorded a strong performance in Croatia during 2023 despite the impact of high inflation and the cost of living crisis on the discretionary spending of local people. In general, Croatian consumers are still hungry for leisure…

The Hungarian travel market has performed positively on the whole in 2023. Inbound, outbound and domestic trip numbers have increased strongly and come closer to their pre-pandemic levels, with diminishing concerns about COVID-19 and the ending of…

The resumption of travel is a key factor in 2023, along with the associated evolution in consumer behaviour since the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdowns made people realise how important it is to achieve a healthy work-life balance, along…

The dynamic performances recorded across all categories of travel and tourism in Romania during 2023 represented the continuation of the strong recovery that began in 2021 and developed over the course of 2022. This was mainly result of the…

The cost of living crisis has not hindered the Slovakian’s appetite for travel in 2023. The number of outbound departures is enjoying steady growth, although travellers prefer low cost destinations such as Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece over more…

The absence of overhaul flights from Prague to destinations in the USA and Asia impacts the recovery of inbound tourism in 2023. As such, it is yet to reach pre-pandemic levels. Furthermore, many tourists from the USA are put off travel to Eastern…

Cylinder vacuum cleaners remained the largest category among vacuum cleaners in 2023. Most consumers in the country own a powerful cylinder vacuum cleaner at home, with many using them sparingly when wanting to do a complete and thorough cleaning of…

Vacuum cleaners witnessed a recovery in 2023, as inflationary conditions eased slightly. Despite the essential status that vacuum cleaners have in virtually all Polish homes, the high inflation that swept across Europe during 2022 put pressure on…

Vacuum cleaners continue to benefit from consumers’ higher standards of health and hygiene, as enhanced by the era of the pandemic. As such, keeping a clean home has become a high priority, supporting both volume and value sales of vacuum cleaners.…

Following a spike in sales during the outbreak of COVID-19, demand for robotic vacuum cleaners has lowered in 2023. The war in Ukraine and rising energy prices only accelerated this decline, with the product suffering from not being viewed as a…

Vending in Bulgaria performed strongly in 2023, registering double-digit value growth, as well an increase in constant value sales, despite continuing high inflation. Convenience and on-the-go consumption drove consumer demand. While hot and soft…

Sales in vending were being supported in Hungary in 2023, due to the number of vending machines increasing. Vending is seen as a beneficial model for retail, as it does not require a cashier to serve the customers, thus cuts down on labour and…

In 2023, vending recorded strong sales in current value terms. Vending value sales are being driven by the increase in the number of vending machines offering drinks and snacks, as well as the technological replacement of hot drink machines with…

In 2023, vending in Romania showcased positive retail value growth, benefiting from the elimination of COVID-19 restrictions in March 2022. This led consumers to return to office work, with free movement outside of the home, enabling the recovery of…

Vending was one of the better performing retail channels in Slovakia in 2023, with current value sales increasing. Convenience and on-the-go consumption drove consumer demand. While hot drinks continued to be the most popular product sold through…

Following the pandemic, vending in the Czech Republic witnessed strong growth as consumers resumed their lives outside of the home. The deteriorating economy and rising cost of living brought an end to this in 2023. Sales in vending machines have…

Foods vending was the most dynamic performer within vending in Ukraine in current value growth terms by some distance in 2023. While this was partly due to high inflation and the ongoing emergence of sales from a relatively low base, its strong…

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…

Vitamins is witnessing one of the highest growth rates within consumer health in 2023, thanks to robust consumer demand driven by health and wellness trends. Vitamin intake and supplementation is gaining importance in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with…

Consumers in Bulgaria are becoming more health conscious, seeking ways to boost their immune systems, improve their energy levels, and maintain general wellbeing. Already prominent prior to the pandemic, the health and wellness trend received a…

The pandemic has encouraged several consumer behaviour changes in terms of the purchasing and consumption of vitamins. Croatians are now taking preventative health more seriously and vitamins and supplements are being taken by those who never…