Asia Pacific

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…

The Asian consumer is changing. Traditional values that served the collective in terms of both society and the family are on the wane, with COVID-19 lockdowns accelerating a new focus on individualism and the self. This report explores how Asian…

Contact lenses and solutions continue to recover from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023. Despite some government intervention in 2022, retail volume and current value sales still remain substantially lower than pre-pandemic levels…

As COVID-19 restrictions ease in Taiwan, people are returning to their normal routines, including going back to the office, exercising outdoors, and traveling on holiday. Due to the strong preference for in-office working culture, demand for contact…

In the post-COVID-19 era, it is no longer mandatory to wear masks in Taiwan but many people still prefer to do so. Many individuals in Taiwan prefer contact lenses over glasses due to the discomfort caused by wearing glasses and masks simultaneously.…

Demand for sunglasses is on the rise in 2023 as COVID-19 restrictions are now relaxed and people venture outdoors more frequently, whether for socializing or exercising. The return of international travel patterns has been a key driver as most…

Demand for contact lenses in Hong Kong continues to grow. Following the cancellation of mandatory face mask policies, the local government lifted all pandemic-related restrictions in March 2023. Consumers' lives are returning to normal, and their…

Demand for contact lenses in South Korea continues to grow in 2023. Most COVID-19 restrictions, such as for large group gatherings and curfews for businesses, were lifted in April 2022, encouraging local consumers to return to pre-pandemic busy…

Overall eyewear in Hong Kong shows greater signs of recovery in 2023, following low growth rates in 2022. The Hong Kong government gradually eased social restrictions from the second half of 2022 into early 2023. In March 2023, Hong Kong fully…

Overall eyewear in South Korea is recording mild growth in 2023, with all eyewear categories surpassing pre-pandemic value sales levels. Sunglasses is a particularly strong performer in 2023, recording another year of double-digit value growth and…

Ageing remains one of the most significant demographic factors impacting eyewear in Hong Kong. In early 2023, over 21.6% of the population in Hong Kong were aged 65 years and older, and thus likely to be in need of some type of presbyopia-related…

With the prevalence of smartphone use in modern society, consumers of all ages, from young children to adults, are constantly exposed to blue light, which is leading to increasing demand for spectacle lenses with blue light filters. Particularly for…

Demand for sunglasses is rising, in line with greater mobility outside of the home and the resumption of travel following the reopening of Hong Kong’s border in early 2023. Although domestic sales of sunglasses are expected to decline due to a…

As COVID-19 restrictions have lifted in South Korea and consumers are returning to their daily routines, demand for sunglasses has recovered in 2023, with the category also recording a third consecutive year of double-digit current value growth.…

The post-pandemic return to mobility, with increased instances of outdoor events, and growth in terms of consumer awareness with respect to usage, all combine to facilitate growth in contact lenses in 2023 – maintaining the positive trend observed in…

The eyewear industry showcased good growth across all categories in 2023. The resurgence of travel, and the post-pandemic increase in outdoor activities and events, have fuelled growth for the category. After a year and a half of home seclusion,…