Credit Crunch Update: No Green Shoots in EU Retailing Q1/2 2009

Credit Crunch Update: No Green Shoots in EU Retailing Q1/2 2009 published by Datamonitor in July, 2009. This report consists of 70 pages and the price starts from US $ 1910.

Introduction

Abstract

Introduction

Most consumers in the EU have reached the peak of private indebtedness, as unemployment rates are rising, consumer confidence is dipping and consumer credit becomes increasingly hard to get hold of. This brief provides an update on this contracting economic activity.

Scope of this research

• Macro economic data on 27 markets, structural indicators and forecasts for each of the 27 EU countries.
• Analysis of the major threats in the market, price developments and the immediate response of European governments and retailers.
• Detailed chapters on three months of trading updates from the EU, with recent developments and future outlook.
• Appraisal of strategic issues, Lidl' s latest initiatives and Arcandor' s insolvency, Germany' s biggest casualty of the crisis so far.

Research and analysis highlights

We find ourselves slogging through the bleakest economic landscape most of us have known in our lifetimes. Verdict expects that the recession in the EU will end sometime perhaps as early as 2010. That would make it the longest and probably deepest downturn since the Great Depression.

Eventually, old and broken down goods will need to be replaced, and the resulting demand will drive economic and retail sales growth. That said, we expect the pace of the recovery will be extremely slow. We are not through the worst yet. We believe that yet more retail casualties such as Arcandor are around the corner.

We are also sceptical about capacity shifts. While insolvencies are usually good news for rival surviving retailers as they stand to gain market share, we are now operating under conditions of severe financial stress and consumer confidence at rock bottom levels. This means that capacity might simply disappear altogether as demand collapses.

Key reasons to purchase this research

• Learn how difficult market conditions are driving competition among retailers and what the outlook for EU retail will be in the short to mid-term.
• Understand how evolving consumer behaviour is forcing retailers to develop new product, sales and marketing strategies in a profoundly changed market.
• Identify the remaining success stories and growth prospects of the key markets and competitors and benchmark their performance.

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Key Findings
• Main Conclusions

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

• Main Messages
• GDP Top 10
• GDP Top 10 Forecasts - Bleak Outlook
• GDP: Midranking Eight
• GDP Midranking Eight - Growth Erosion
• GDP: Smaller Nine
• GDP Smaller Nine - Growth Erosion Bad For Baltics
• Consumer Expenditure
• Structure
• Inflation Falls Rapidly At End-2008
• HICP Annual Averages
• Savings Rate To Increase Sharply
• Euro Interest Rate Turns Downward
• Other Interest Rates
• Unemployment - Lagging Indicator

EUROPEAN MARKET - RETAIL SPENDING

• Latest Expenditure Trends

MAJOR STORIES

• Lidl starts selling cars
• Arcandor goes bust

CURRENT TRADING UPDATES

• March
• April
• May
  • Grocery
  • Clothing
  • Other sectors

• June

STRATEGIC SECTION

• Key Issues
• As we predicted, Deflation remains the Major Threat
• Discounters and the Reaction Depress Prices Further
• Threat of Deflation in Wider Economy

THE POLICY RESPONSE

• The G20 and its impact on the retail sector: Boosting consumer and retailer confidence

THE RETAILERS' RESPONSE

• Private label development

GLOSSARY

• Definitions

TABLES

• Table: Monthly HICP rates y-o-y Nov 2008 - Apr 2009
• Table: Monthly Unemployment rates y-o-y Oct 2008 - Mar 2009
• Table: Monthly retail growth rates y-o-y Oct 2008 - Mar 2009

FIGURES

• Figure: GDP: Top 10 countries in European Union 2008e
• Figure: GDP change % forecast for Top 10 EU countries 2008 & 2009
• Figure: GDP: Midsize Eight (€ 100bn+) of other 17 countries in EU 2008e
• Figure: GDP change % forecast for Midsize Eight (€ 100bn+) of other 17 EU countries 2008 & 2009
• Figure: GDP: Smaller Nine (€ 100bn-) of other 17 countries in EU 2008e
• Figure: GDP change % forecast for Smaller Nine (€ 100bn-) of other 17 EU countries 2008 & 2009
• Figure: Co nsumer expenditure of Top 10 EU countries 2007
• Figure: Countries among other 17 in EU with consumer expenditure of € 18bn+ 2007
• Figure: Countries among other 17 in EU with consumer expenditure of € 18bn- 2007
• Figure: Consumer expenditure as % of GDP 2007
• Figure: Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices - annual average growth of Top 10 EU countries 2007 & 2008
• Figure: Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices - countries among other 17 in EU with annual averages over 4.5% 2007 & 2008
• Figure: Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices - countries among other 17 in EU with annual averages under 4.5% 2007 & 2008
• Figure: Gross household saving % of gross household disposable income (latest data) 2007
• Figure: ECB interest rates 2005-2009
• Figure: Central bank annual averages for key reference interest rates 2008
• Figure: Alsterhaus Hamburg
• Figure: EU HICP - monthly food price change May 2008-Apr 2009 (y-o-y)
• Figure: Oil spot price FOB weighted by estimated export volume ($/ barrel) - monthly Mar 2008 - May 2009
• Figure: Downward spiral of grocery prices in 2009

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