In light of the pandemic, retailing in Latvia performed relatively well in 2020. The emergency situation came into force on 13 March when a two metre social distancing measure was introduced to observed in stores and other public places, along with restrictions on public events and social gatherings while schools were closed. In an effort...
2020 has brought unprecedented challenges to the UAE retail landscape, a market highly vulnerable to the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic given the high proportion of GDP fuelled by retail, transport and hospitality. Dubai stands out as one of the most diversified economies of the GCC and it relies very heavily on tourism...
Like throughout the world, Taiwan’s retailing sector suffered a huge blow due to the impact of COVID-19 in 2020, which resulted in a major slowdown of economic activity due to social distancing measures. In response to the crisis, the government introduced a wide range of restrictions, causing a slowdown in economic activity, especially in...
COVID-19 had a mixed impact on retailing in Japan in 2020, although overall value sales declined as consumers curbed their spending in response to the crisis. Despite this, supermarkets, the largest channel in value terms, witnessed stronger growth in 2020 having seen sales stagnate prior to the outbreak of COVID-19. This was largely due to...
Ecuador experienced a double whammy, as a result of COVID-19. There were significant job losses and economic uncertainty as services were curtailed due to COVID-19, but also as Ecuador’s economy is largely dependent on oil, the economy was affected by the steep drop in oil prices in 2020 due to reduced demand. Retailing in Ecuador...
COVID-19 had a significant negative effect on bricks-and-mortar retailing in Hong Kong in 2020. Foot traffic was greatly reduced, as the pandemic made local consumers much less inclined to gather in groups for shopping. Meanwhile, many retailers have limited the number of consumers that are allowed in their stores at any one time in an effort...
The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the Thai retailing market, with almost all channels seeing sales fall in 2020, particularly in the second quarter of the year during which the government imposed a lockdown over March-May. Store-based non-grocery retailing channels were amongst those hit hardest by the pandemic and measures imposed...
Retailing experienced a contraction in 2020, for the most part due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic. Consumers were directed to stay at home under the Movement Control Order (MCO) that was originally expected to last for two weeks in March, but which had to be extended until 12 May. During this time, all non-grocery retailers...
The impact of COVID-19 has been less severe in Sweden compared to many other markets, with this being largely due to the government’s decision not to introduce a lockdown. Instead, the country’s strategy has to a large extent been built on voluntary quarantining and social distancing, with virtually all shops remaining open during 2020. Retailing...
France’s retailing industry experienced numerous major challenges during 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in numerous fundamental changes to consumer behaviour. However, it should be noted that the difficulties faced across the industry during 2020 were not as severe as what was seen in travel and tourism and consumer foodservice, among...