Retailing

In 2023, vending in Germany experienced a stronger value sales decline, following a more modest fall the previous two years during the post-pandemic reopening. While vending locations, such as streets, transport hubs, and semi-captive environments…

Despite recording high single-digit current value growth in 2023, the solid performance by supermarkets in Germany was largely driven by the historically high inflation rate, especially for food and drinks. In comparison to discounters, the other…

Small local grocers in Germany recorded the lowest current value growth among all grocery retailing channels in 2023. This corresponded to a strong decline in constant terms due to the historically high inflation during the year; food and…

In 2023, retail in Germany displayed resilience amid challenging economic conditions, with varying performances across different channels. While inflationary pressures continued to influence consumer spending patterns, a gradual stabilisation in the…

In 2023, Germany's e-commerce landscape showed signs of potential recovery, following 2022’s sales slump as the country emerged from the pandemic. A stronger return to stores, ongoing economic volatility, and low consumer confidence stemming from the…

The economic slowdown in 2023 somewhat undermined the performance of hypermarkets in Germany, as the format is highly dependent on non-grocery purchases often considered by consumers as discretionary spending. This adds to the longer-term challenges…

In 2023, value sales of home products specialists in Germany experienced a marginal downturn following a particularly strong performance the previous year. This channel, which includes home improvement and gardening stores, homewares and home…

Following a marginal decline the previous year, health and beauty specialists in Germany recorded moderate value growth in 2023, mainly driven by the rising demand for beauty and personal care products. With rising overall costs in Germany,…

Value sales of general merchandise stores in Germany rebounded in 2023, following the previous year’s decline. The latter was driven by department stores, with the channel’s sales falling by double digits due to temporary store closures. Although the…

In a macroeconomic environment marked by stagnation and low consumer confidence, in combination with historically high inflation rates, especially for food and drinks, discounters in Germany significantly outperformed all other grocery channels in…

In 2023, direct selling in Germany continued on its growth trajectory, albeit at a steadier pace compared to the spike during the pandemic. The channel's success is largely attributed to its effective digital transformation and the adoption of a…

Convenience retailers in Germany recorded a resilient performance in 2023, despite a slowdown compared to the rapid growth witnessed in 2022 when cultural, leisure and professional events, including major trade, resumed at full capacity following…

Despite a recovery to pre-pandemic value sales levels in 2022, driven by high inflation and pent-up demand for in-store shopping as mobility restrictions eased, appliances and electronics specialists in Germany returned to decline in 2023. This was…

In 2023, apparel and footwear specialists in Germany, including H&M, experienced modest growth compared to the double-digit rise recorded the previous year due to an easing of pandemic restrictions and pent-up demand, yet sales remained below…

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…

Cities are hubs for spending, with 80% of expenditure expected to be generated by urban areas in 2023. Spending growth in 2023 will, however, be sluggish, as cost of living challenges force consumers to be more conservative in their expenditure. Over…

Global consumers are struggling with the cost of living crisis, as inflation remains high while household income growth lags. Consumers are adopting recessionary habits, such as trading down and being more selective in their spending. Rather than…

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…

This report examines e-commerce usage and revenue share from e-commerce in different industries and countries. The e-commerce index helps to better understand which industries are leading and identify key success factors. The briefing also analysis…

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. Global inflation is reaching a peak, although geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market remain key risks. The impact varies between countries, with…

The briefing examines how retail and wholesale industry performs globally and in the largest countries in terms of retail and wholesale output. The report also provides data for production, imports, exports, industry’s costs, industry’s profitability…

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…

In 2021, variety stores in Germany recorded a strong rebound following the impact of the pandemic in 2020. In fact, the channel far exceeded the 2019 level of sales in both current and constant terms. This is due to the ongoing strong upwards trend…

In 2021, traditional grocery retailers recorded minimal growth overall, and this was slightly lower compared with the previous year. On balance, after sales were again driven by the lengthy lockdown, the overall slowdown in growth can be ascribed to…

In 2021, mobile e-commerce contributed significantly to the continued growth of online shopping, following the initial pandemic-related surge in 2020. During the extended lockdown in the first half of the year, e-commerce increasingly became the…

While in 2020, the current value growth of home and garden specialist retailers accelerated slightly, as the channel benefited from much more time spent at home, as sales of various products were brought forward, this also meant a subsequent slump in…

The pandemic led German consumers to focus on health and hygiene more than they already did before, which benefited channels within health and beauty specialist retailers which focus on pharmaceutical, health and hygiene products. As such, both…

Food and drink e-commerce was the fastest growing e-commerce category in Germany in 2021, albeit from a relatively low base. Growth remained dynamic after an already strong year in 2020, as the pandemic shifted much of consumers’ activities to the…

E-commerce continued to be the main story in retailing in Germany in 2021, continuing the strong growth momentum from the previous year amidst changed consumer behaviour and a digital pivot amongst retailers. While the extended lockdown in the first…

In 2021, the value sales of department stores remained significantly below the 2019 level, posting only a relatively limited recovery, particularly when compared with other store-based channels. This is due to the performance of Galeria Karstadt…

Convenience stores remained a relatively niche channel within grocery retailing in Germany in 2021. Most consumers live within easy reach of other formats of grocery stores in the country, given the exceptionally high number of discounters and…

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 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…

Restrictions on movement, changing consumer preferences and the heightened focus on safety triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic are anticipated to alter the future of consumer mobility, urban planning and construction. The surge in homeworking, reduced…

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…

Technological advances are creating unprecedented change across consumer-facing industries. The Digital Consumer Survey, fielded in March and April, offers insight into the pace and depth of this evolution, tracking consumer behaviour, attitudes,…