Singapore

High productivity levels and a well-developed financial services sector have helped Singapore prosper. Its very open economy appeals to investors, who benefit greatly from a regulatory landscape that is conducive to businesses. However, its openness ...

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Beyond fitness and lifestyle applications, the government is actively investing to incorporate healthcare, brain training, adventure and photography in smart wearables. Through the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), the government ...

Smartphones have increasingly become a pivotal part of life in Singapore. Singapore boasts one of the world’s highest penetration rates of smartphones, with each household, in theory, owning an average of four smartphones. One of the most successful ...

Wireless speakers recorded the highest growth rate in portable players in 2018. The increasing demand for wireless speakers by consumers is driven by a few factors. The wide access to and popularity of digital downloads and streaming services like ...

Major online activities that used to be carried out on desktops and tablets have been substituted by smartphones. The importance of desktops and tablets has directly affected the ownership of these products, as smartphones can now replace their core ...

There is a strong growing interest in sound bars, especially among millennials. Long gone are the days when sound bars were considered a TV accessory. With shrinking living units, homemakers are becoming increasingly conscious of the optimum usage of...

The implementation of new display technologies such as OLED and QLED has shifted demand and interest in the smart television landscape. As smart TVs occupy a central position in many households, these screens can become a central hub for interaction ...

The decline in demand for digital cameras continues to be seen as consumers increasingly take photos with their smartphones. With the launch of each new smartphone, the camera function within the smartphone gets better. For the average consumer who ...

New product innovation is crucial in driving what is a saturated market. Recent launches like smart wearables, wireless speakers with voice assistants and activity wearables have been steadily picking up momentum, driving growth in the industry. ...

Backpacks recorded strong growth due to the active fitness scene in Singapore. Movements such as ActiveSG’s Active Health and the rising popularity of fitness subscription services like ClassPass encourage Singaporeans to proactively take ownership ...

Consumer sentiment in Singapore has been low, affected by a weak economic outlook and inflation. Economic growth has slowed down due to growing protectionist tensions around the world and the additional threat of China’s trade conflict with the US, ...

Personal accessories in Singapore recorded weak retail current value growth in 2019 due to weak consumer sentiment as well as a drop in tourism receipts. For the higher-end brands in the industry, tourism is a key factor contributing to the growth. ...

Mechanical watches are still highly regarded as a status symbol in Singapore. Sales of watches have been growing, with the younger generation increasingly concerned about “accessorising” themselves. However, the majority of the younger generation are...

Despite the twin threats of a shrinking population and increasing digitisation, writing instruments has continued to record growth in value terms. Brand owners are continually trying to innovate and repackage their products in order to attract ...

Internet retailing for contact lenses is expected to become increasingly prominent in Singapore over the forecast period. With the convenience of the internet, consumers are able to replenish their disposable contact lenses from the comfort of their ...

The eyewear industry in Singapore continued to record growth in 2019 due to the high rates of myopia and presbyopia as well as increased concerns about proper eye care. With the government’s initiatives to increase awareness of managing myopia and ...

With Singapore having an increasingly ageing population and myopia hitting children at a young age, the base of demand for spectacles is not expected to see any decline in the near future. With an ageing population, comes an increased proportion of ...

The athleisure trend is still on the rise globally and in Singapore, with no signs of slowing down. The trend blurs the line between sportswear and fashion, with more brands launching sports collections for sunglasses to embrace this trend. The ...

2018 saw an increase in excise duty for tobacco products, which led to an increase in cigarette unit price. However, cigarette consumption decreased only marginally in 2018, in line with the decline in previous years. This may be due to the increase ...