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The biscuits environment, being an indulgent category, is increasingly affected by the widely spreading health and wellness trend. A growing number of Poles are becoming interested in leading more balanced lifestyles, which also translates into healthier food choices. Within biscuits, more consumers reach for wholegrain products or varieties enriched with fruit pieces or nuts. This in turn encourages more manufacturers to expand their ranges with health-positioned products offering...

the Bulgarian market had a mixed 2012, with mobile subscriptions continuing to increase even at penetration rates in excess of 160%, but monthly blended ARPU declined rapidly. We believe this pattern was the result of aggressive promotional activities by operators to retain existing customers and attract new ones. The pattern of subscription growth and price pressures is forecast to continue, driven by competition and regulatory policies such as MTR reduction. However, this trend will be less pronounced than in 2012 as operators face up to the reality of having to maintain margins. Meanwhile, we remain upbeat about the broadband sector, which we expect to benefit from strong investments, next generation access networks and increasing take-up of internet-based services, such as IPTV.

Time-scarce consumers place high value on maximizing free time. Day-to-day pressures on time such as work, cleaning, cooking, and looking after children, mean that finding room for precious free time (or "me-time") can become a daily battle. This time scarcity is generating demand for convenient products that offer speed and performance benefits.

We expect difficult trading conditions to persist in many segments of Bulgaria's consumer electronics market in 2013. Retail sales remained in negative territory for much of 2012; however, we expect fiscal policy to be broadly supportive of household consumption ahead of planned elections in 2013.

BMI's New Zealand tourism report examines trends in inbound and outbound tourism, developments in transport infrastructure and the hotel industry and the long-term investment potential offered by the tourism industry. The country's strong range of tourist attractions, including the rural mountains of the South Island, a variety of winter and summer sports, attractive metropolitan cities and eco-attractions including whale watching make New Zealand and enduringly popular holiday destination.

With volume growth of 4%, sales of microwaves in 2012 recovered from the big slump in 2011, mainly underpinned by the stable trade-up demands in terms of energy-efficiency and multi-functionality, along with some first-time purchase demands from rural-dwelling consumers. 2011 was a sluggish year for microwaves, not only caused by the fading stimulus of government-supported polices and the slow real estate market, but also affected by the poor performances of Galanz and Midea, the two biggest...

Gum is expected to see retail volume and value sales growth of 2% and 7%, respectively, to reach 280 tonnes and EUR9 million in 2012. During early 2012, retail value sales growth was mainly driven by unit price increases, but this did not result in a decline in demand. Due to growing purchasing power, consumers were less sensitive to gum prices in 2012. Another supporting factor was that gum prices denominated in euro still appeared relatively cheap to Estonian consumers compared to prices in...

Tobacco posted nearly 8% in current value growth in 2011. This is largely attributable to the country's stable economic growth, and the sustainable and higher disposable income of the middle- to high-income consumers who can afford and easily adjust to the price hikes of tobacco products. Higher unit prices as a result of inflationary measures and tax increases contributed mainly to the growth in value sales despite decline in overall volume consumption.

GlobalData's new report, "Ambu A/S Market Share Analysis" provides in-depth information on Ambu A/S's market position in the different medical equipment markets it operates in. The report provides Ambu A/S market share information in four key market categories - Patient Monitoring Accessories, Airway and Anesthesia Devices, Respiratory Devices and Respiratory Disposables. The report also provides data and information on the overall competitive landscape of the markets, the company operates in. The report is supplemented with global corporate-level profile with information on the company's business segments, major products and services, competitors, locations and subsidiaries, financial deals and other key developments.

MediPoint: Total Ankle Replacement - EU Analysis and Market Forecasts

The economic slowdown strongly impacted the purchasing power of Polish consumers. However, it did not significantly affect consumption of sauces, dressings and condiments as in many categories products were consumed in similar quantities in 2012 as before the economic slowdown. A decline in retail volume growth was recorded in 2012 in categories in which there is a high rate of saturation, for example stock cubes and powders and herbs and spices.

Local manufacturers are becoming increasingly active in this area due to the fact most available products are relatively high priced. Also, the leading local player, Nordic Pet food, produces CipCirip - a type of bird food which is very affordably priced and given to small mammals and rodents. While packaging is less attractive, prices are very affordable and demand is thus rising.

Financial cards and payments continues to record good growth, with both the number of cards in circulation and the number of accounts increasing in 2012 - albeit at a slower pace than in 2011. Debit cards led growth and remains the largest area within financial cards in Morocco and is followed by credit cards, which also recorded good growth both in terms of transactions and number of cards.

Smart Grid Round-Up 2012

There are several economic factors which are having a positive impact on growth in baby food in Kazakhstan. The most important of these is rising consumer incomes and the increasing number of Kazakh consumers who are able to spend money on the needs of their children, while the strong urbanisation of the Kazakh population and the rising number of women in the Kazakh workforce has led to many Kazakh mothers taking shorter periods of maternity leave before returning to work. In order to save time...

GlobalData's clinical trial report, "Tardive Dyskinesia Global Clinical Trials Review, H1, 2013" provides data on the Tardive Dyskinesia clinical trial scenario. This report provides elemental information and data relating to the clinical trials on Tardive Dyskinesia. It includes an overview of the trial numbers and their recruitment status as per the site of trial conduction across the globe. The databook offers a preliminary coverage of disease clinical trials by their phase, trial status, prominence of the sponsors and also provides briefing pertaining to the number of trials for the key drugs for treating Tardive Dyskinesia. This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by GlobalData's team of industry experts.

Industry analysis specialist GlobalData has released its latest report "Healthcare, Regulatory and Reimbursement Landscape - Belgium". An essential source of information and analysis on the Belgian healthcare, regulatory and reimbursement landscape, it identifies the key trends in the healthcare market and provides insights into the demographic, regulatory, and reimbursement landscape and healthcare infrastructure.

Economic conditions in 2011 created a favourable environment for retailing. The positive growth of gross domestic product (GDP) drove a low unemployment rate and high consumer confidence. Thus, sales growth was pushed as a consequence of the willingness to spend more on leisure and non-essential products. Customers took advantage of low prices, especially in the case of imported ones, which were affected by the strong appreciation of the Chilean Peso.

Shoe polish is widely used in Ecuador, as people without properly polished footwear are not considered ready for work, school, or any other activity where they are required to be properly dressed.

The main competitor of major players in the Georgian yoghurt and sour milk category remains artisanal products. Artisanal products achieve a high share in sour milk, which is traditionally produced by Georgian households. In addition to drinking milk products, the leading players in yoghurt and sour milk in 2012 expanded their product line to cover the maximum number of consumers and rebranded their products (Sante and Georgian-Eco). The efforts of these companies led to a one percentage point...

The change in the style of dress of Polish men was the key trend in Poland in 2012. Men increasingly prefer casual fashion (called city style), to the detriment of the traditional formal style. Such clothing is featured by its universality; it is simple, and can be worn on different occasions. The switch relates not only to clothing worn for everyday use, but also to garments worn at work. At present in major organisations and companies, a liberal style is very common, and only in selected...

During 2012, the economic recovery continued positively affecting household budgets. Increasing optimism and growing consumer confidence had a positive effect on sales of refrigeration appliances, which recorded 9% retail volume growth in 2012. According to trade sources, the highest increase in sales was witnessed in the first quarter of the year, which partly could be explained by seasonality of sales.

In 2011, gum sales stagnated with decreasing popularity of gums with xylitol, which accounted for the bulk of gum sales. Due to this trend, current value sales of gum overall are expected to decrease slightly (by 0.3%) to reach Won362.0 billion in 2012. Gum growth has declined since the rapid growth period it experienced between 2001 and 2002. Although current value sales saw positive growth in 2010 with economic recovery, the market it reverted to negative growth in 2011. In South Korea,...

Packaged food growth rates in Turkey increased in 2012. Nonetheless, growth in the area was below the review period average. Despite improved economic conditions at the end of the review period, consumers are yet to re-adopt their pre-crisis spending patterns. Due to consumer price sensitivity, manufacturers were forced to keep price increases to a minimum and offer price promotions in order to maintain retail volume sales.

Euromonitor International's Industrial reports provide a 360 degree view of an industry. The Industrial market report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the Weapons and Ammunition market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they new product developments, packaging innovations, economic/lifestyle influences, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts illustrate how the market is set to change.