COGNICURRENT

Finland forecasts economic growth following a modest increase in GDP, driven by investment and consumption despite challenges like high debt and unemployment.

Car sales in Estonia have significantly increased, more than doubling in January compared to the previous year, with continued strong growth in February.

Biedronka is capitalizing on the growing demand for high-protein dairy products, particularly yogurt, which has seen significant sales growth driven by consumer preference for high-protein variants.

Experts predict a steady growth in the demand for used cars in 2026, driven by several economic factors and consumer confidence.

Poland has been aware of contaminated Brazilian beef containing banned growth hormones but has chosen to remain silent, putting consumers at risk.

A recent spike in Britain's unemployment rate alongside weak economic growth indicators suggests deeper underlying issues in the UK's economic recovery.

Skroutz reports that nearly 40% of its order volume in Greece for 2025 is expected to be directed towards provincial areas, alongside plans to open approximately 300 new Skroutz Points with 13,000 lockers.

Retail sales in Poland in January 2025 surpassed economists' expectations, driven by significant increases in furniture and electronics sales.

The article discusses the recent economic growth figures in the United States, noting that they are the lowest recorded since the onset of the pandemic.

The U.S. economy experienced a significant slowdown in growth in the fourth quarter, growing at a rate of 1.4% instead of the anticipated 3.0%, due to a combination of factors including a government shutdown and reduced consumer spending.

Moncler reported a consolidated revenue of 3.13 billion euros, showing resilience in the luxury market despite challenges, with notable growth from its brand Stone Island.

The article discusses the detrimental economic policies of the Slovak government, which are stifling consumption through high taxes and ineffective measures for economic growth.

Despite rising prices, the demand for meat and dairy products in Poland remains robust, with significant sales growth recorded over the past year.

Canadian Tire highlights its loyalty programs as a key factor in strong earnings amidst shifting consumer habits and economic challenges.

Amazon has officially surpassed Walmart as the world's largest company by sales, driven by the growth of its tech subsidiary AWS.

Swedbank Estonia's Olavi Lepp indicates that Estonia is experiencing early signs of economic growth, although the pace is moderate due to high energy prices affecting consumer prices.

Latvia's Ministry of Finance has raised its GDP growth forecast for 2026 to 2.6 percent, reflecting stronger-than-expected economic performance.

In January, consumer prices in Estonia saw a growth of nearly four percent compared to the same month last year, according to new data from the statistical office.

The Trades Union Congress is urging the Bank of England to cut interest rates to stimulate consumer spending and economic growth amid concerns of lagging performance compared to international peers.

Finnish consumer companies report growth, with Verkkokauppa.com CEO highlighting a significant revenue increase, despite overall challenging conditions last year.

Notable influencers in Finland are criticizing the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority's (KKV) new guidelines that they believe hinder their growth.

Verkkokauppa.com reported a substantial increase in sales, with a growth of over 20% in revenue during the last quarter of the year compared to the previous year.

S-Group reported a 1.5% increase in retail sales to €14.5 billion, attributing this growth to strong market activity even amidst consumer caution and economic uncertainty.

American consumer spending shows signs of deceleration after years of steady growth, influenced by factors like inflation and geopolitical crises.

Lithuania's electric vehicle market shows promising growth, outpacing its Baltic neighbors, but consumer reluctance due to myths still holds it back.

The Banking Association of Czechia has revised its forecast for economic growth this year, indicating a more optimistic view of the country's economic performance.

Heineken will cut up to 6,000 jobs globally due to declining beer sales and lower profit growth expectations.

The UK economy grew by only 0.1% in the final quarter of 2025, raising concerns about sluggish growth and consumer confidence.

China's consumer prices increased for the fourth consecutive month in January, but the growth was less than expected, indicating persistent uncertainty in inflation expectations.

The article discusses the revival of the second-hand market in Poland, highlighting significant growth in physical stores since 2008 and changing social attitudes toward used goods.

Retail sales and revenue have been increasing since September, although employment in the sector continues to decline, according to the Finnish Commerce Federation.

A prominent economist warns that without significant market reforms, China's growth rate could fall to as low as 2.5%, with struggles to maintain growth above 4%.

Brazil's Ministry of Finance has slightly downgraded its economic growth forecast for 2026 while raising its consumer inflation estimate for the same year.

The growth rate of the money supply reached 9.1% at the end of last year, the highest in four years since the pandemic, attributed to lower interest rates and consumer incentive programs.

The National Confidence Index decreased by 2% in January, interrupting four consecutive months of growth and returning to a neutral range.

The demand for new armored vehicles increased by 23.4% in 2025, outpacing the growth for non-armored cars, according to Webmotors.

The Greek Banking Association reported a significant increase in housing loans by 46.3% in 2025, with about 45,000 households securing new loans and a total of €2.509 billion granted to small businesses.

El Puerto de Liverpool plans a revenue growth of up to 6.9% in 2025, driven by strong night sales and consumer behavior during the Good End shopping event.

In an increasingly competitive environment with more informed consumers, customer experience has become a key differentiator for companies in Mexico, emphasizing the need to place customers at the heart of business strategies to build long-term relationships of trust and value.

Riverford reported a 6% increase in sales, reaching £117m, as the UK organic food market experiences its largest growth in 20 years, driven by consumer demand for healthy, trustworthy food.

Primaprix, the supermarket chain offering low prices on major consumer brands, has nearly quadrupled its revenue over the past five years, reaching a record turnover of 347 million euros by the end of 2024.

Despite tightening budgets, coffee shop visits in the U.S. have increased, with Scooters Coffee experiencing notable growth as consumers continue prioritizing their coffee habits.

The economic climate index significantly improved in December, rising to 107.4 points from 105.9 points in November, with most service sectors experiencing growth and consumer confidence also increasing.

The domestic market experienced single-digit growth throughout most of the year, with a notable uptick in consumer activity in the second half, according to Alsendo's Michał Wójcik.

The book market has come under pressure, with overall sales declining by 2.9% in 2025 compared to growth in previous years, reflecting broader struggles in retail due to a poor consumer climate.

A recent interview reveals that 44% of large consumer companies anticipate growth over 5% by 2026, with Mercadona and Lidl at the forefront of the sector.