Western Europe

Tobacco saw continued decline in France in 2023 in both volume and value terms. The increase in taxes on cigarettes during the year led to higher prices, with popular brands such as Marlboro Red 20 priced at EUR11.50, Camel Filters 20 at EUR11.00,…

Retail sales of tobacco in Finland continued to fall in volume terms in 2023, consistent with the downward trend in smoking prevalence across the country. Finns are very aware of the harmful impact of smoking, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic,…

In Austria, retail volume sales of cigarettes experienced a notable decline in 2023, falling below pre-COVID-19 levels for the first time. This decline follows a pandemic-induced increase when travel restrictions limited access to cheaper cigarettes…

The sales of sunglasses in the Netherlands continue to thrive, benefiting from their positioning not only as essential protective accessories but also as fashion complements. With a heightened awareness of the dangers of UV light and an increasing…

Having exceeded 2019 retail volume and current value sales for the first time in 2023, sunglasses in Spain continues to recover from the slump caused by the exigencies of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Sunglasses is projected to see the fastest…

The performance of sunglasses is heavily influenced by the weather in France as well as tourism trends. In 2022, sales of sunglasses peaked due to high temperatures throughout the summer and the strong revival of national and international tourism in…

Spectacles are expected to record positive growth in 2024, driven by a continuous increase in the consumer base in the Netherlands. Dutch consumers view spectacle frames as essential items, similar to spectacle lenses, making them less likely to…

Spectacles in Spain is expected to see modest, and slower, retail volume growth over 2024, compared to 2023. However, supported by an increase in the average retail unit price, retail value (constant 2024 prices) sales are projected to rise for the…

Spectacles in France continues to grow at a healthy pace in 2024, in both retail volume and current value terms, with unit prices declining in both frames and lenses. Sales of spectacle lenses are slowing in 2024, due to the ongoing effect of the RAC…

As in 2022, smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in Denmark did not see uniform retail volume sales developments at the end of the review period. In this vein, retail volume sales of chewing tobacco and e-vapour products continued…

Heated tobacco products saw strong growth in 2023, solidifying their position as the most established nicotine source next to cigarette smoking in Austria. Consumers widely perceive these products as less harmful than cigarettes, making them a…

The smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco category continued to expand in France at the end of the review period, reaching around EUR1.3 billion in 2023. The number of vapers in France also continued to increase, reaching around 2.7…

The market for smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco in Finland saw especially buoyant growth in retail volume terms in 2023, following the deregulation of nicotine pouches in April of the same year. This meant that these products,…

Homewares in Spain witnessed robust value growth during the pandemic years as lockdowns and home isolation fostered a widespread interest in home cooking. In 2023, however, without any restrictions on mobility, Spanish consumers returned to their…

Home improvement in Spain witnessed a significant slowdown in performance, with current value sales falling into decline in 2023. The slump in domestic home renovations was aligned with the contraction in real estate and construction in Spain, both…

Home furnishings in Spain witnessed slower growth in current value terms over 2023, with inflation and price increases underpinning much of this progress. Demand for home furnishings was affected by the rising price of furniture and raw materials,…

Home and garden in Spain witnessed a notable slowdown in current value growth during 2023, with price increases largely responsible for this growth. The ongoing financial pressures suffered by Spanish consumers and the slowdown in Spain’s real estate…

Despite the strong interest in gardening as a leisure activity in Spain, current value growth slowed in 2023. The unusually harsh weather – a prolonged drought followed by heavy rain – disrupted the typical spring season when most gardening sales…

In 2024, sales of eyewear in the Netherlands are experiencing healthy growth, continuing the positive trend from the previous year. Despite facing challenges such as price increases and inflation, Dutch consumers consider eyewear an essential item…

Eyewear in Spain continues to see a return to pre-Coronavirus (COVID-19) consumption patterns in 2024. As in 2023, the end of COVID-19-related restrictions in the country has seen Spanish consumers resume out-of-home lifestyles, returning more fully…