North 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.…

In the upcoming years, consumers and businesses face an array of challenges, with income inequality, mass migration and rising uncertainty about another crisis being among the major ones. Nevertheless, within this lie untapped opportunities. This…

The trend towards sustainability and eco-friendliness in the gardening industry in Canada is driven by growing consumer awareness about environmental issues and the impact of human activities on the planet. As a result, there has been a rise in…

The surge in the popularity of gardening, which began in 2020 and 2021, continued into 2022, as more people became aware of the mental health advantages of caring for plants and outdoor activities. As a result, demand for gardening products such as…

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…

In 2022, Canada experienced a decline in consumer confidence, which was attributed to an increase in inflation resulting from rising energy prices caused by the Russian-Ukraine war and global recession. This increase in energy costs also led to a…

In 2022, the US saw a decline in consumer confidence, which was attributed to a surge in inflation caused by increases in energy prices due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. This, coupled with lingering COVID-19 supply chain issues, kept food…

The multifunctional home furniture trend in Canada is driven by the rise of urban, small-space living, and a desire for practicality and efficiency in home furnishings. Consumers are increasingly looking for furniture that can serve multiple…

Home furnishings in North America saw growth slow markedly in 2021 after the spike in demand seen a year earlier, when consumers were directing more of their income into spending on their homes, given the large amount of time they were spending in…

2022 witnessed demand for home office furniture decline in the US even in current value terms, as high inflation discouraged middle-income consumers from buying such products. In addition, the waning popularity of remote working and the relaxation of…

Bathroom and sanitaryware is one area to benefit from the home improvements seen in Canada. Indeed, the event of the pandemic led to a focus on home renovation and improvement projects, with people also spending more time at home due to the…