RUSSIA'S STRONG APPETITE FOR IMPORTS.
The persistent strength of Russia's national currency (the
ruble) and an uptick in real household income has contributed to
increased demand for imported durable goods over the past 18 months . . .
IMPLICATIONS FOR MARKETERS.(Brief Article)
Germany has traditionally been the engine that drove private sector
consumption in the European Union, but it has been a drag on the region
over the past two years and that pattern will persist . . .
EUROPEANS SPICE UP THEIR HEALTH FOOD.(Brief Article)
Europeans are opting for a healthier diet but are not willing to
compromise on flavor. As a result, sales of spices and condiments are on
the rise. Retail sales of prices in those categories should . . .
UK PREFERENCES FAVOR CONVENIENT FOODS.(Brief Article)
A report recently released by the British market firm Mintel
reveals that the strong shift in consumer preferences toward convenience
foods. According to the report, sales of food products in that . . .
FIRMING DEMAND FOR GREEK DURABLES.(Brief Article)
Recent elections that brought conservatives into power boosted
confidence among Greek consumers and industrial leaders and that brought
a prompt upswing in sales of capital goods and household . . .
SLOVAKIAN CONSUMPTION CLIMATE TO IMPROVE.(Brief Article)
Slovakian consumers suffered a minor setback when real household
income slipped by about 3 percent last year, but it appears that real
income should regain its upward momentum during the second . . .
GERMAN MUSIC PIRATING HURTS LEGAL SALES.(Brief Article)
Legitimate sales of recorded music slipped nearly 20 percent in
Germany during 2003 and the panorama has not brightened much in 2004.
Major recording studios are adopting a carrot and stick tactic . . .
SURGING DEMAND FOR DVDS IN SLOVAKIA.
Demand for DVDs and DVD players developed slowly in Slovakia, sales
began to surge in 2003 and should continue to do so this year and next.
Slovakia's purchasing power parity per capita of nearly . . .
FRENCH CONSUMERS STILL HAVE THEIR DOUBTS.
French demand for non-durable and semi-durable goods is gradually
regaining upward momentum, but depressed consumer confidence will delay
a sustainable recovery in high-end spending into the fourth . . .
GREEK FINAL CONSUMPTION PICKS UP.
As Greece prepares to host the Olympic Games, the stage is set for
modest but sustainable growth in internal private sector demand for
goods and services.
Final consumption of goods rose 2.2, . . .
UKRAINE'S DEMANDING FOOD SHOPPERS.
Living standards in the Ukraine have risen substantially since the
collapse of the Soviet Union and that is reflected in a healthier diet
consisting in a much broader range of foods and beverages . . .
IMPLICATIONS FOR MARKETERS.(Brief Article)
Although Eastern European nations do not represent a major share of
European private sector consumption, their importance is on the rise.
Russia and the 10 nations that recently joined the EU are . . .
DEMAND RISES FOR BABY PRODUCTS IN SWEDEN.(Brief Article)
Producers and vendors of baby products in Sweden are anticipating a
rebound in demand this year thanks to an uptick in the birth rate. At a
time when population growth was minimal in most of the . . .
FINLAND'S PRINT ADS REACH MORE CONSUMERS.(Brief
Article)
The print media continues to be one of the most effective means of
reaching Finland's consumers, although Internet and mobile media
are slowly gaining acceptance as advertising media. A recent . . .
THE FRENCH PREFER SIMPLE PHONES.(smart phones usage)(Brief
Article)
Multifunction phones referred to as "smart phones" have
gained little acceptance in France. At present, cellular phones that
offer e-mail and Internet access account for only 3 percent of . . .
RUSSIANS GENERALLY NOT ORIGIN CONSCIOUS.(Brief Article)
Generally speaking, Russian consumers do not take the origin of
products into consideration when making a purchase decision. As a
result, the level of market penetration that national and . . .
SPANISH INTERNAL DEMAND IN QUESTION.(Brief Article)
Strong internal demand for goods and services in Spain has helped
that nation fend off the negative effects of the economic slump that
prevails in most of the eurozone, but there is reason to . . .
PRODUCT FOCUSu ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN FINLAND.(tax reduction of
alcoholic beverages by 33 percent contributed to rise in sales)
The government of Finland's decision to lower the onerous tax
on alcoholic beverages by 33 percent has contributed to strong growth in
sales starting in March of this year. Alko, which has a retail . . .
GERMANY EXPERIENCES LONG-TERM STAGNATION.
Germany's long-awaited recovery in internal demand for goods
and services is slipping farther off into the future as consumers
concerns related to employment and the nation's economic . . .
FRENCH CONSUMPTION STILL ON HOLD.
Prolonged economic stagnation in France is taking its toll on
internal consumption. Confidence at the household level has improved
little and nagging unemployment is limiting growth in real . . .
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