Eastern Europe

Convenience stores continued to be affected by price hikes in Hungary in 2023. Whilst inflationary pressures have had effects across retail, we see some specific spikes and falls.

It was a poor trading year for appliances and electronics specialists in Slovakia in 2023. With inflation still high, consumers prioritised essentials and postponed purchases, if at all possible. As such, there was a significant fall in both current…

Inflationary pressures supported value sales for appliances and electronics specialists in Hungary in 2023, due to the resulting increases in unit prices. Indeed, retailers and manufacturers alike have been facing increased operational costs, rising…

Apparel and footwear specialists registered a fall in current value sales in Slovakia in 2023. With inflation still being high, consumers were price sensitive and cut back on spending on non-essentials. Also, when consumers did purchase, they traded…

Apparel and footwear specialists is another channel which was seeing strong value growth in Hungary in 2023. Indeed, this trend continues from 2022, which also saw double-digit value growth, as the channel bounced back from the pandemic restrictions…

The wipes category in Bosnia and Herzegovina witnessed moderate growth in 2023 as consumers placed a stronger emphasis on personal hygiene in the post-pandemic era. Overall, locals are enjoying a higher standard of living, and this has increased use…

Following the pandemic, vending in the Czech Republic witnessed strong growth as consumers resumed their lives outside of the home. The deteriorating economy and rising cost of living brought an end to this in 2023. Sales in vending machines have…

Vending in Bulgaria performed strongly in 2023, registering double-digit value growth, as well an increase in constant value sales, despite continuing high inflation. Convenience and on-the-go consumption drove consumer demand. While hot and soft…

Tissue and hygiene in Bosnia and Herzegovina continued to experience the effects of high inflation in 2023, although the rate was significantly lower than in 2022. Inflation has weakened consumer purchasing power as many households face higher costs…

Supermarkets in the Czech Republic have enjoyed a solid performance in recent years. Inflation has remained high since 2022 plunging the Czech economy into dire straits for the second year running. Even though the soaring costs of living put further…

Supermarkets in Bulgaria registered current value growth, though constant value sales fell. Inflation was still an issue and impacted profitability. That being said, supermarkets are the largest modern grocery retailer in terms of value sales, with…

Small local grocers in the Czech Republic have struggled to adapt in an environment of high inflation, which has weakened the Czech economy since 2022 and created a cost of living crisis for Czech households. Indeed, some outlets were forced to cease…

Inflation was still an issue in 2023 for small local grocers in Bulgaria, though growth eased. As such, though current value sales rose, constant value sales fell, as continuing rising costs cut profit margins. There was also minimal openings of new…

In retail tissue in Bosnia and Herzegovina, toilet paper, paper tableware and paper towels all saw a moderate decline in retail volume terms in 2023. Consumers opted to economise and refrained from buying less essential products like paper tableware.…

Retail in the Czech Republic was heavily affected by the war in Ukraine, as energy costs soared and inflation climbed to double digits, a trend that has continued into 2023. The Czech economy has weakened substantially with consumers struggling to…

High inflation continued to impact retail in Bulgaria in 2023, though growth in retail prices did ease. As such, though current value sales increased, there was a fall in constant value sales, as continuing rising costs hit profit margins, and also…

After dynamic sales during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce retail sales slowed in 2023. This is not only attributed to the natural slowdown in growth after several successful years, but also the weaker economy. Czech households made…

High inflation impacted retail e-commerce in Bulgaria in 2023. As such, though retail e-commerce registered high current value growth, constant value sales fell. Consumers cut back on spending on less essential items and this impacted e-commerce.…

Consumer demand for retail adult incontinence remains stable in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with marginal growth in retail volume terms. In response to rising prices, the category has seen strong double-digit retail value growth. Older people are the…

Nappies/diapers/pants in Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of hardest hit categories in tissue and hygiene as it is heavily impacted by the country’s declining population, thus creating a smaller potential consumer base. Low birth rates continue to…