Eastern Europe

A reported 85% of Zalando e-shop customers engage in sports activities at least once a week. In addition, the Czechs Republic exceeds the European average in the category of sportswear. The most sought-after brands include Nike, adidas, Under Armour,…

The cost of living crisis towards the end of the review period, following on from the economic impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, had a significant effect on retail volume and current value sales of menswear in the Czech Republic. High…

There is a significant level of maturity in jeans in the Czech Republic, with most people owning more than one pair, often a pair for leisure and a smarter pair for socialising or even at work. Premium and super premium brands have been challenged…

A healthy lifestyle, increased levels of exercise (gym and outdoor) and participation in sports and more time spent outdoors boosted sales of functional and technical hosiery in the Czech Republic in 2023. Functional sheer hosiery that is designed to…

Across footwear, sneakers (trainers) and children’s footwear are projected to see the steepest increases in unit prices over 2023, although the demand for sneakers continued to gain traction. Heeled shoes and boots have seen significant increases in…

Childrenswear is expected to see a further, and stronger, decline in retail volume sales and a moderate, but much slower, retail current value increase over 2023. There was some fluctuation or downsizing about the performance of the category overall.…

A recovery in consumer demand in 2022 enabled the fashion industry to rebound, although high inflation, geopolitical challenges and the energy crisis affected the cost of living and consumer behaviour in Q4. Although overall business results were…

The obligation to wear a face mask or respirator was completely lifted, even from places like hospitals and retirement homes, in the Czech Republic in early 2022. Since then, the demand for washable face masks has continued to shrink. Despite the new…

Inflation has shaped how Romanians make purchases, with impulse shopping now declining. However, demand for womenswear remained high in 2023, as consumers prefer to wait for discounts or sometimes even to buy in instalments rather than giving up…

Inflation and declining purchasing power generally drive down demand for non-essential products. Nevertheless, demand for sportswear continued to increase in both 2022 and 2023, showing that there is still considerable room for growth in a context of…

Romanian men are putting more importance on their personal image and are willing to invest more in good quality apparel. This trend was reflected in a healthy growth rate in menswear in both value and volume terms in 2023. Nonetheless, inflation was…

In 2023, jeans maintained a significant growth rate in both value and volume terms. With the COVID-19 restrictions left behind, Romanians are going out more than before and want to dress appropriately. Nevertheless, cocooning remains an important…

With consumers going out more than before, 2023 brought another year of growth for hosiery. In addition, given that the category is comprised of relatively inexpensive products, inflation was not a big factor for hosiery during the year. The category…

After the 2021 rebound, volume sales of footwear continued to increase in both 2022 and 2023. As Romanians are going out more often than before for work, leisure or travelling, their demand for footwear is also on the rise. This rise in demand is…

Romanian consumers are showing a tendency to be more frugal in the context of high inflation with rising prices for raw materials and final products. This was reflected in a slight deceleration of the volume trend in 2023, though growth remained…

Apparel and footwear continued to grow in both value and volume terms in 2023 despite a difficult economic context. Romanians are notably preoccupied with their personal image, and they display a high level of brand loyalty and are attracted to big…

Apparel accessories registered another year of growth in 2023, as Romanians continued to go out more often than before and, therefore, showed a higher level of preoccupation with their personal image. The difficult economic context meant that apparel…

In the upcoming years, consumers and businesses face an array of challenges, with rising income inequality being among the key ones. Nevertheless, addressing the income inequality through catering to the Bottom of the Pyramid and the Middle Class…

The global economy is facing weaker growth and increasing fragmentation, as a result of rising geopolitical tensions, especially due to the war in Ukraine and the US-China strategic rivalry. Protectionism, industrial policy and a focus on resilience…

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…