North America

The briefing introduces the Cities Households Necessities Spending Index. The index ranks 1,075 cities by household expenditure on non-discretionary items, namely food, housing, and clothing and footwear. This analysis focuses on 160 major cities.…

Sustainability has become a prominent theme in the 21st century, especially in light of rising urbanisation, which is putting more pressure on infrastructure and quality of life. The report analyses sustainability across seven key areas: water,…

Cigars and cigarillos in the US had an abrupt awakening in 2023, after the category experienced a current value decline for the first time in over a decade. This came off the back of a very strong performance in the pandemic and post-pandemic period…

Despite challenges in the wider tobacco category, cigars in Canada continue to attract a dedicated following among cigar aficionados and other tobacco enthusiasts. There is a growing interest in pairing cigars with craft beverages, such as whiskey…

Cigarettes in the US saw declines in both retail volume and current value terms in 2023. High inflationary pressure led to increased consumer spending on groceries, entertainment, fuel, and more, ultimately negatively impacting the consumption of…

In 2023, Canada saw a significant decline in the production of traditional cigarettes, with January marking the third lowest monthly production on record. This decrease in production capacity in the tobacco manufacturing industry marks part of the…

While overall cider/perry in the US marked 2023 with a loss of volume and value sales, and a loss of share in overall alcoholic drinks, advocates paint a rosier picture for the category’s performance and outlook. Much in the same way the larger…

In 2023, cider/perry in Canada continued its downward trajectory. Although some growth was brought on by the on-trade sector, the off-trade segment saw a significant decline. The category struggled due to a lack of new product launches and faced…

US consumers are continuing to modify their shopping habits in order to cope with the higher prices of their favourite treats. Some consumers are buying lower-priced chocolate confectionery to ensure volume supply, some are buying decadent chocolate…

Chocolate confectionery continues to generate healthy demand as Canadians' indulgence habits remained consistent post-lockdown. With on-the-go snacking on the rise as people return to the office, smaller portion and pack sizes have gained popularity.…

Childrenswear in the US, which showed recovery from the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, faced significant challenges in 2022, and this has continued in 2023, due to the impact of inflation and the rising cost of living.…

Childrenswear experiences solid value growth in 2023, continuing its recovery from the previous year. However, volume growth diminishes due to inflationary pressures, prompting consumers to focus on essentials. Back-to-school shopping in 2023, a…

The Chicago in the US report provides comprehensive city level information benchmarked against other cities in the country and region. The report includes historic data and forecasts on city population, consumer expenditure, digital penetration,…

Retail volumes remain in negative figures in cheese in 2023, while value sales are supported by hikes in unit prices. Indeed, 2022 marked a difficult year for consumers, as they saw consistent monthly unit price increases throughout the year, leading…

Cheese consumption continues to rise in Canada, leading to an enhancement in overall sales both in terms of value and volume. Effective trade agreements have facilitated the availability of a wide variety of cheese from countries including the US and…

The Charlotte, NC-SC in the US report provides comprehensive city level information benchmarked against other cities in the country and region. The report includes historic data and forecasts on city population, consumer expenditure, digital…

Charge cards as a whole has been performing well in 2023, and it is expected to continue to grow beyond pandemic lows. Consumer spending in 2023 has driven payments across all card types, with the return to travel remaining an important storyline – a…

Growth continues to slow for charge cards in Canada in 2023, with the category’s relevance fading rapidly. One reason is lack of availability, with American Express morphing many of its charge cards into the realm of traditional credit cards. For the…