General Retailing Market Research Reports & Industry Analysis

Although 2024 saw a drop in the unemployment rate and a slight improvement in average wages in Brazil, retail still faced macroeconomic challenges. The level of indebtedness of Brazilians, which was around 77% in December 2023, reached a peak of 79% in June 2024, according to the National Confederat ...

General merchandise stores saw double-digit current value growth in Brazil in 2024. Although variety stores maintained a slight declining trend, department stores rebounded to growth, offsetting the decline seen the previous year. With the reduction in the unemployment rate in Brazil, and a relative ...

In 2024, general merchandise stores in Canada registered strong, if slower than in 2023, retail current value growth, with both variety stores and department stores performing well in this metric. Meanwhile, overall growth in terms of the number of outlets was due to variety stores, with department ...

The current value decline of department stores continued in the US in 2024, as once iconic retailers struggled to adapt to an evolving market with shifting consumer habits and the inexorable rise of retail e-commerce. Another bleak year has passed, with growth remaining out of reach for some of the ...

Direct selling saw dynamic current value growth in Brazil in 2024, maintaining the trend seen throughout the review period. Direct selling has long been seen as an ideal source of additional revenue for those whose incomes are under pressure, which has helped maintain growth. Beauty and personal car ...

In 2024, direct selling in China saw a marginal current value increase, indicating a modest turnaround after several years of decline. In-person events such as product demonstrations, parties, and conferences offer a unique opportunity for direct sellers to build deeper relationships with customers ...

In 2024, department stores remained the largest channel within general merchandise stores in China, although it experienced a current value decline, driven by consumption downgrading, the limited efficacy of policy measures, and increased online penetration. Economic pressures have been prompting co ...

In 2024, department stores in Bulgaria continued to struggle, with limited activity beyond the operations of Sofia Department Stores under its Notosgalleries brand. The channel faces increasing pressure from specialist retailers, particularly in the apparel, footwear, and beauty segments. One of the ...

Retail in Canada saw some big changes in 2024, due to a mix of new technology, shifting consumer habits and the economy. One of the key developments saw Canadian retailers embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. From keeping track of inventory to creating personalised marketing campaign ...

Retail in China experienced moderate current value growth in 2024, although a slight slowdown in the rate of increase was seen compared with 2023. Macroeconomic factors played a significant role, with the economy slowing down, and the housing market facing challenges. High unemployment rates and red ...

2024 was a difficult year for retail in France. Store-based retailing remained at a standstill in current value terms and saw a net loss of over 2,000 outlets – primarily, but not exclusively independent stores. While retail e-commerce rebounded in value, this was insufficient to drive overall marke ...

In September 2024, the US Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate for the first time since March 2020, signalling a near end to the inflationary macroeconomy. While inflation showed signs of abating, grocery prices remained on average about 25% higher than 2019 levels, according to the US Dep ...

Direct selling in Bulgaria saw a decline in both current and constant value sales in 2024, as a continued shift toward e-commerce led to decreasing consumer reliance on traditional direct sales models. The convenience of online shopping, coupled with the availability of direct home delivery, signifi ...

Direct selling experienced another year of declining sales in the US in current value terms in 2024. The channel continues to struggle in the US market for several reasons. The recruitment of sales representatives has been challenging, given the tight labour market conditions of the last two years. ...

General merchandise stores in Argentina saw value sales rise in 2024. The competitive landscape of general merchandise stores in Argentina witnessed significant disruption towards the end of the review period as Falabella closed its stores and left the country. As a result, the Mexican enterprise Co ...

General merchandise stores in Israel experienced strong growth in 2024, despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. The Israel-Hamas War led to a sharp decline in international travel, redirecting consumer spending toward local department stores. Many Israelis, who typically shop abroad for lower pric ...

While the number of department stores has remained largely static in Finland for many years (growth rates can look inflated due to the low number of outlets where even small changes appear significant), in retail sales price (RSP) terms, sales in 2024 declined. Euromonitor International's General Me ...

The retail environment in Norway is undergoing significant changes because of inflation and evolving consumer preferences. Consumers are increasingly prioritising smaller, more affordable purchases over expensive items. This shift is having a considerable effect on different sectors of the retail ma ...

In 2024, retail in Norway registered an uptick in current value growth compared to the previous two years, supported by an upswing in household spending power. Inflation has slowed in Norway, bringing about price stability and driving private consumption. Grocery retailing is a significant contribut ...

In 2024, general merchandise stores in Ireland experienced a slight decline in retail value sales, falling by 0.1% in current terms. However, department stores saw a retail value uplift of 2%, while variety stores experienced a significant decline of 15%. Euromonitor International's General Merchand ...

Direct selling saw declining retail value sales in current terms in Greece in 2024. The channel continued to suffer as consumers turned to e-commerce for convenience and became ever more familiar with and confident in shopping online. While companies such as Avon, Oriflame and Herbalife still hold a ...

Retail Occasions Series: UK Retail Occasions Market 2019-2024 Summary The UK key occasions market rose between 2019 and 2024, driven by growth in the Christmas and Black Friday events. Halloween expenditure decreased in 2024 compared to 2019, making it the worst performing occasion during the period ...

In 2024, direct selling in Austria experienced retail value growth of 3%, in line with the overall retail growth in the country for that year. The channel remained largely dominated by non-grocery categories such as appliances, homewares, and body care, all of which showed weaker growth compared to ...

General merchandise stores in the Netherlands performed well in 2024, largely driven by the success of discount variety store retailer Action and, to a lesser extent, Hema department stores. Over the past decade, discount retailers have displaced many outdated, established players in the general mer ...

Direct selling in Peru has continued to expand significantly in 2024, as it remains a popular channel among consumers seeking convenience and cost-saving opportunities, often with the personalised advice of a consultant. Euromonitor International's Direct Selling in Peru report offers insight into k ...