Western Europe

Department stores benefited from the increase in inbound tourists seen in Spain in 2023 as foreign tourists love to go to places such as El Corte Inglés to do their shopping and to partake in the uniquely Spanish experience found in its outlets.…

Even though inflation rates declined in 2023 as compared to the record highs registered in 2022, they remained higher compared to pre-pandemic levels. As a result, price remained the main driving factor behind where many people chose to shop for…

Discounters in Norway fared well both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and have been able to sustain this solid performance in 2023. In the face of high inflation, locals are seeking out lower prices when grocery shopping. Price pressures have…

According to the Spanish Association of Direct Selling, only around 30% of Spaniards purchase products via direct selling. The regions where direct selling has the highest penetration rate are Andalusia, Madrid, and Catalonia. The limited penetration…

The pandemic has revived the fortunes and renewed the popularity of the direct selling channel amongst Norwegian consumers, as it led companies to establish new ways of marketing and selling their products, namely by using digital tools, such as…

Convenience retailers benefited from the lifting of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions and the opening of new outlets across Spain. There was also increased foot traffic in urban areas driven by the rise in tourism which supported the growth of…

The twin challenges of high inflation and heightened competition continue to impact the performance of convenience retailers in Norway, only prolonging its recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Convenience stores and forecourt retailers…

Appliances and electronics specialists saw only modest growth in current value terms in 2023, with the challenging economic environment impacting spending on non-essential items. Although inflation was lower than in 2022 it still remained higher than…

Appliances and electronics in Norway registered an uplift in value sales in 2023, largely due to inflationary pressures, which pushed up retail prices. Consumer demand weakened as interest rate hikes took hold, whilst the weak currency led to higher…

The combined impact of the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 created widespread instability in the local economy with high inflation and a sharp rise in prices continuing to be seen in 2023. This limited the recovery of apparel and…

Apparel and footwear saw current value growth rise on a par with recent years, with inflation fuelling some growth. This followed a few tough years during the pandemic era when people stayed at home and retail sales were naturally limited. Saved…

In 2023, wipes in Belgium faced a decline driven by economic uncertainty, as high inflation deterred consumers who viewed wipes as a discretionary purchase. However, amidst this downturn, eco-friendly wipes, particularly moist toilet paper, witnessed…

Vending saw good growth again in 2023, when Austria finally put the COVID-19 pandemic largely behind it and public life and consumer mobility finally returned to normal. During the pandemic and temporarily closed stores, there has been a lot of…

Tissue and hygiene in Belgium faced significant challenges in 2023, primarily driven by inflation and soaring energy prices. However, the essential nature of most products in this category mitigated the extent of the decline. The decreasing birth…

Just like grocery retailers as a whole, hypermarkets saw strong growth in value sales in 2023, although this was entirely price driven as inflation remained at unusually high levels for a second consecutive year. Demand was down as consumers…

Small local grocers was also characterised by a reluctance to spend among consumers in 2023, as inflation and the cost of living have risen sharply since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis in spring 2022. Sales rose sharply again in 2023, although…

The year 2023 witnessed a notable increase in demand for RX/reimbursement adult incontinence products in Belgium, spurred by several key drivers. Firstly, Belgium's ageing population continued to fuel sustained demand for such products. Additionally,…

Retail tissue in Belgium faced significant challenges in 2023, primarily driven by inflationary pressures. While toilet paper, perceived as an essential product, experienced relatively stable demand, other categories such as paper towels and facial…

After a year of slowdown, the retail market experienced significant growth in value terms although this was entirely price-driven as inflation remained at unusually high levels for a second consecutive year. Although disposable income in 2023 slowly…

After a slow year, retail e-commerce saw significant growth in value sales again in 2023, although this was entirely price driven as inflation remained at unusually high levels for a second consecutive year. Although disposable income slowly…