Eastern Europe

Cigarettes continued to decline in volume terms in 2022 as a result of the trend of waning smoking prevalence. The generational shift has contributed to enhancing the influence of the increasingly prominent health and wellness trend, which is driving…

The normalisation of social activities and relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions positively impacted the tobacco market in 2022, leading to a rebound from its decline in 2021. Initially, there was optimism for the summer and rest of the year, as…

Tobacco registered constant value and volume growth in 2022, despite high inflation, which was caused the energy crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine. Geopolitical tensions in the region also led to a significant increase in the number of…

E-vapour products registered healthy constant value growth in 2022, in spite of high inflation. E-liquids remained highly fragmented in 2022, with the relatively low average disposable incomes of local consumers encouraging strong price competition.…

A substantial proportion of smokers have experimented with heated tobacco products since their introduction, and the user base is expanding, particularly in urban areas, office districts, and other locales frequented by smokers for brief respites.…

The excise tax on other tobacco products was increased as of July 01, 2022, while there was also an increase on April 01, 2021. With rising inflations impacting consumers' purchasing habits, this increase in unit prices during a time of heightened…

There was a significant increase in volume sales for cigars and cigarillos in 2022, and in particular for cigarillos. With society fully opened up, post pandemic lockdowns, this led to an increase in volume sales, as there was more socialising. The…

Returning to offices, lifting bans on social gatherings and events, and reunions with friends boosted smoking occasions. Thus, cigarette market rebounded from the 2021 low level. Although the pandemic has highlighted the importance of maintaining…

There was a temporary issue with supplies of cigarettes in 2022. Cigarettes are mainly imported from Ukraine, but with war breaking out in Ukraine in 2022, supply lines were severely disrupted. As a result, other trade routes had to be found quickly,…

A new set of excise taxes continued to push retail prices upwards in 2022, which put an additional strain on the already weakened budgets of smokers in Slovakia. Inflationary pressure was also a key factor contributing to double-digit growth of…

Heated tobacco saw the arrival of Glo from British American Tobacco Plc in 2022, causing disruption with its new devices priced at some 50% lower than its sole competitor Iqos (Philip Morris Slovakia sro). Heavy marketing support in tobacco…

The disappearance of pandemic fears created more opportunities for social events and gatherings in 2022 giving rise to greater smoking occasions. However, mounting inflation and soaring prices hampered demand for cigars as disposable income was…

Rising inflation in addition to further excise tax hikes helped to shift cigarette smokers towards other categories in 2022, including smoking tobacco and vaping. Under such economic conditions retail volume growth has remained under pressure with…

When selecting a pair of sunglasses, the brand is one of the most important factors that consumers consider. In Romania, esteemed brands like Polaroid and Ray-Ban hold significant appeal, particularly for individuals who strongly consider their…

The performance of spectacles in Romania has been consistently impressive, surpassing expectations and maintaining value, despite the challenges of high inflation. This indicates that Romanians prioritise quality when it comes to choosing their…

In 2023, the eyewear landscape in Romania continues to exhibit positive retail value growth, albeit at a more modest pace compared to 2022. This relatively slower dynamic can be attributed to a combination of factors that have influenced the spending…

The penetration rate of contact lenses in Romania is below the European average, with the country having one of the lowest rates. Moreover, usage of contact lenses in the country remains limited to urban areas and to people with medium to high…

Sales of consumer electronics were negatively impacted as consumers cut down on discretionary purchases as prices of electronics products escalated despite the economic uncertainties.

Poland's consumer income is projected to experience subdued growth over the near term, in line with considerably slowing economic development. Middle-class households are forecast to decline, while the lowest income class is set to expand at the…

Consumer Types can be a powerful tool to help companies better understand and appeal to their target markets. By going beyond typical demographic-based segmentation, such as age or gender, and grouping consumers based on shared traits and…