Latin America

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.…

Spiralling inflation coupled with reduced harvests amidst a series of severe heatwaves caused food prices in Argentina to rise dramatically in 2022. As a result, more consumers were motivated to try to save money by growing their own vegetables. Such…

In 2023, accelerating value sales growth of pots and planters in Brazil was underpinned by many factors. As the economy rebounded post-pandemic, heightened disposable incomes prompted a renewed inclination towards discretionary spending, notably on…

Gardening continued to record positive, if modest, value growth (at constant 2022 prices) in 2022, with demand (at constant 2022 prices) in this year higher than its pre-pandemic levels. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers spent more time at home…

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 report examines inflation level and drivers globally and in the key countries. Global inflation is forecast to accelerate due to higher energy and commodity prices, disruptions in supply chains and weaker business confidence. Impact varies…

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…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in Q4 2023 and 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence remains among the key economies. Higher volatility in the energy markets and disruption of…

This briefing examines how the wood commodity is performing globally and in the largest countries in terms of wood supply and consumption. The report also provides data and analysis for wood prices, imports, exports and top consuming industries as…

This briefing examines how the furniture industry is performing globally and in the largest countries in terms of furniture output. The report also provides data for production, market size, imports, exports, industry costs, industry profitability…

The global outlook has improved as of Q1 2021, thanks to vaccination progress in many developed countries. Nevertheless, the recovery prospects remain distant for most economies in the face of the spread of new, more infectious variants of the virus.…

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 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession since World War II. In Q4 2020, the end of the pandemic started as countries began administering effective vaccines among the population; however, vaccine distribution…

As the end of 2021 approaches, almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence and rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant has increased uncertainty and weakened the momentum of the global recovery. This series of quarterly reports…

While total current value sales growth for home and garden in Argentina in 2022 was markedly faster than in 2021, this was because the country’s already steep inflation rate soared to new heights amidst the combined impact of the rapid deprecation of…

In 2023, home and garden in Brazil continued to experience high value growth, albeit at a decelerated pace, influenced by a blend of discernible trends and economic dynamics. The substantial drop in inflation from 9.2% in 2022 to 4.5% in 2023,…

Overall, in 2022, home and garden in Mexico registered a decline in demand at constant 2022 prices, with value sales in these terms well below pre-pandemic levels in this year. This can be attributed to various external factors, such as economic…

The increased incidence of remote/hybrid working that has resulted from the pandemic continued to bolster demand for home office furniture in Argentina in 2022. Remote working practices were widely adopted in early 2020 as part of the national effort…

In 2023, bedroom furniture in Brazil recorded a marginal value sales decline, driven by various factors. Deflation in raw material costs, primarily driven by a fall in volume sales and industry-wide operating reductions, led to abundant inventories…

Although charcoal barbecues recorded a slight decline (at constant 2022 prices) in 2022, demand remained strong for these products, with value sales (at constant 2022 prices) remaining above their pre-pandemic levels in this year, thanks to seeing…