ITALIAN CONSUMER CONFIDENCE BOTTOMS OUT.
A combination of economic weakness and political turmoil battered
Italian consumer confidence during 2003, but the panorama is likely to
improve a bit in the second quarter of 2004.
Economic . . .
SPANISH COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY REVIVES.
Spains internal consumption proved to be surprisingly resilient
throughout the 2002-2003 European economic slump, and 2004 promises to
be the year when sustainable growth in private sector spending . . .
ICELAND'S FIRM DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.(Brief
Article)
With a population of 0.3 million, Iceland is home to one of the
worlds smallest consumer bases, yet the levels of household income and
discretionary spending are among the worlds highest. To a . . .
BELGIAN CONFIDENCE ON THE RISE.(Brief Article)
By December of last year, the level of confidence among Belgian
business leaders had demonstrated a multi-month upward trend. There were
also signs that consumer confidence is recovering, and that . . .
HUNGARY'S CONSUMPTION CLIMATE SHIFTS.(Brief Article)
Late last year, rising interest rates and devaluation of the
national currency (the forint) clouded Hungarys consumption climate.
These shifts undermined the cost competitiveness of imported goods . . .
LATVIA'S SHRINKING CONSUMER BASE.(Brief Article)
Latvia has made impressive headway in its economic transition
following the breakup of the Soviet Union, yet obstacles still remain to
long-term growth of private sector consumption.
One obstacle . . .
NORWEGIAN CONSUMERS GAIN CONFIDENCE.(Brief Article)
Confidence among Norwegian consumers and business leaders is on the
rise, and that will contribute to healthy gains in private sector
consumption as 2004 progresses.
The jobless rate in Norway . . .
IRELAND BENEFITS FROM ITS GREEN IMAGE.(horticultural
industry)(Brief Article)
The demand for Irish garden nursery products is increasing both at
home and abroad, and that should bring double-digit growth for plant
producers and retail nursery operators.
Strongest internal . . .
EUROZONE GDP EXPANDS, BUT RETAIL SALES DON'T.(gross domestic
profit)
European Central Bank leadership predicts that the strong euro will
boost household consumption, but retail sales data show that the
turnaround will be slow in coming.
The fourth quarter of 2003 . . .
INDONESIAN CONSUMER DEMAND TO GROW.
Internal consumption has been the engine driving Indonesias
economic growth in recent years, and it should take on even more
importance during 2004.
A recent report released by the Central Bank . . .
CASUAL KOREAN LIFESTYLE RESHAPES DEMAND.
The South Korean work week is getting shorter and consumption
patterns are changing as the average household focuses more on
recreational activities. The five-day work week is boosting the . . .
IMPLICATIONS FOR MARKETERS.(China and India to lead consumer
spending)(Brief Article)
China and India will be the driving forces behind growth in Asian
private sector consumption for years to come. Although China is the
worlds largest consumer base at present, it will be eclipsed by . . .
THAIS PUT THEIR CREDIT CARDS TO WORK.(Brief Article)
Thai consumers are rapidly gaining maturity in the use of credit
cards and feel increasingly confident to venture into financed high-end
purchases. Thailands credit card business is one of the . . .
JAPAN'S SHIFTING ALCOHOLIC PREFERENCES.(Aahi Breweries
Ltd.)(Brief Article)
As Japanese consumers become acquainted with a wider variety of
imported alcoholic beverages, wine and cocktails are gaining market
share against beer. Japans leading brewer, Aahi Breweries Ltd., . . .
CHINESE CONVENIENCE STORE SALES TO RISE.(Brief Article)
Faced with tepid sales growth in their mature home markets, the
worlds largest convenience store chains are increasingly pinning their
hopes for expansion in the Chinese market. Chinese consumers . . .
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE BOOSTS NZ SALES.(Brief Article)
At the outset of 2004, consumer confidence in New Zealand was at a
six-year high, and that will be reflected in strong demand for high-end
durables throughout the year. Interest rates are likely to . . .
AUSTRALIANS SPENDING IN SPITE OF HIGHER INTEREST RATES.(Brief
Article)
Australian interest rates began to rise during the second half of
2003, but consumer goods sales are likely to remain strong through 2004.
However, there is increasing evidence that the heated . . .
PRODUCT FOCUS- VIETNAMESE VEGETABLE OIL.
The demand for vegetable oil is on the rise in Vietnam, and local
producers are taking major steps to fend off competition from high
quality imported brands.
According to a report released by . . .
MONSOONS AND MANUFACTURING SHAPE INDIAN DEMAND.
In Indias agriculture-dependent economy, monsoon rains have a
direct impact on the level of demand for consumer goods and services.
Years in which the monsoon rains fail are lean years for rural . . .
SPAIN'S CONSUMPTION PANORAMA BRIGHTENS.
Spain evaded the prolonged economic downturn that plagued most of
the rest of the EU over the past two years, and commercial activity is
positioned for moderate but sustainable growth throughout . . .
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