Western Europe

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession in nearly a century. Businesses are operating in a world of anxieties and uncertainties, not knowing what will be the new normal or when output and consumer spending…

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.…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. Global inflation is reaching a peak, although geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market remain key risks. The impact varies between countries, with…

Now in its seventh edition, this report explores the top digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this edition touch on topics such as second-hand shopping, community group buying,…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. In 2023, global inflation is expected to ease from its peak in 2022, but remaining significantly above-trend. Geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market are…

In the upcoming years, consumers and businesses face an array of challenges, with income inequality, mass migration and rising uncertainty about another crisis being among the major ones. Nevertheless, within this lie untapped opportunities. This…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in Q4 2023 and 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence remains among the key economies. Higher volatility in the energy markets and disruption of…

Technological advances in 2024 will continue to reshape consumer behaviour. This annual report explores the top five digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this report’s edition…

Contact lenses in the UK are set to deliver solid single-digit volume and current value growth over 2024, which will make it the most dynamic performer in eyewear (in terms of volume growth). After the decline that resulted from the pandemic in 2020,…

Eyewear in the UK is expected to continue to record single-digit retail volume and current value growth in 2024, albeit at marginally slower rates than the previous year. Eyewear in the UK witnessed a relatively quick recovery after the decline seen…

Spectacles in the UK continued to witness positive growth in 2023 offset by the ramifications of the pandemic. At the same time, value growth was driven by average unit price increases in line with inflated energy prices. While both value and volume…

After a strong performance in 2023, when sunglasses in the UK recorded high single-digit volume growth and double-digit value growth, 2024 is expected to be more of a cautious year for the category as a whole. The dynamic growth witnessed in 2023 was…

Retail volume sales of contact lenses and solutions has been relatively stagnant in Sweden for much of the review period, although there was a slight uptick in 2024. Advanced features and rising prices brought on by inflation has underpinned current…

Rising concern about the prevalence of myopia among children and teenagers, primarily due to excessive screen exposure, has contributed to a renewed focus on contact lenses and solutions. Teenagers in particular often feel self-conscious about…

Eyewear in Sweden continues to display a robust performance in 2024, buoyed by an ageing population and increasing time spent on digital screens, which are both boosting the need for more specialist or value-added eyewear products. The rising…

Eyewear in Turkey has been in recovery since 2021, but a full return to pre-pandemic levels in volume terms is not expected until the second half of the forecast period. Sales have already recovered in current value terms, but this has largely driven…

Spectacles in Sweden continues to display solid retail volume and current value growth boosted by rising unit prices and inflation. The ageing population along with lifestyle changes, such as greater exposure to digital screens, is boosting demand…

Overall growth in spectacles is set to remain steady if moderate in retail volume terms throughout 2024 fuelled by rising demand for progressive lenses. Demand for progressive spectacle lenses is being driven by Turkey’s ageing population, coupled…

Sunglasses in Sweden is one of the most dynamic categories in eyewear. Since the post-pandemic boom in sales, volume growth slowed in 2022 and 2023, but momentum is building in 2024. The strong premiumisation trend coupled with inflation continues to…

With Turkey continuing to see elevated inflation in 2024, consumers continue show a more cautious attitude towards consumption. As such, consumers are postponing purchases of non-essential products, such as sunglasses, which is resulting in a decline…