Magazine: Our five neighbours

Ukraine: in the December 2014-April 2015 period FMCG retail sales soared by 16 percent. Prices elevated by 28.6 percent, so in terms of volume sales dropped by 12.6 percent. In Q2 2015 the consumer confidence index grew 7 points from Q1 to 48. Romania: FMCG retail sales have been declining by 1-2 percent since early 2014. Prices have hardly changed since August 2013. Consumer confidence was rather high in Q2 2015 at 78 points – the European average was 79 points. Serbia: volume sales grew by 1.4 percent but value sales fell 0.4 percent. Consumer confidence developed in a rather balanced fashion, as it has been moving in the 51-54 point range since Q4 2013. In Q1 and Q2 2015 the index was at 53 points. Croatia: in the examined period value sales decreased by 0.9 percent, but before that (August-December 2014) they reduced by 6.2 percent. Prices have been lowering since August 2013. Consumer confidence was at 59 points in Q2 2015. Slovenia: volume sales were down 1 percent in the examined period and value sales dropped 1.7 percent. Consumer confidence improved a little to 61 points in Q2 2015.