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We have made a modest downward revision to our forecast for total Bulgarian household spending to 2018. Having forecast growth of 23.9% last quarter, we now expect total spending growth of 22.6% to BGN59bn. A relatively immature retail sector will continue to provide investors with opportunities to secure 'catch-up' growth, while February retail sales data also provides cause for optimism, and as such, risks to our retail forecasts are weighted to the upside. Nonetheless, a modest economic growth forecast for 2014, still-high unemployment levels and a very weak demographic picture continue to dominate our forecasts and ensure that Bulgaria remains at the foot of our regional Risk/Reward Ratings for the regional sector.

The double down-trading triggered by the economic slowdown visibly affected analgesics, the second largest category in consumer health (very close to the largest, cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies). Consumers down traded to formal generics, which were the only share winners (one percentage point up) and to informal products (not tracked by EMI). That translated into a decline in the constant value growth rate from 4% in 2012 to 3% in 2013. The slowdown due to the increase in informal...

The HZZO is moving many drugs from full reimbursement status to partial reimbursement status, as it continues to cut expenditure and shift costs onto patients. Heavy price cuts and margin restrictions within the pharmaceutical supply chain threaten to cause drug shortages and weaken the supply chain within Croatia. We forecast weak pharmaceutical market growth over the next decade, in light of Croatia's acceding to EU pressure to rein in its budget deficit in December 2013. Liquidity issues and payment terms will remain unfavourable in 2014, but we believe that EU influence should see this ease over the medium term.

GlobalData's new report, "North America Electrophysiology Market Outlook to 2020", provides key market data on the North America Electrophysiology market. The report provides value, in millions of US dollars, and volume (in units) and average price data (in US dollars), within market categories - Electrophysiology Diagnostic Catheters, Electrophysiology Ablation Catheters and Electrophysiology Lab Systems.

Summary "South Korea Mobile Demand Market to 2015: Mobile Subscriptions by Operators" report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment for mobile operators. It is an essential tool for companies active across the telecom value chain in South Korea and for new companies that may be considering entering the market.

Solar PV Power in Germany, Market Outlook to 2025, Update 2014 - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy, Equipment Market, Regulations and Company Profiles" is the latest report from GlobalData, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the solar PV market in Germany.

GlobalData's new report, "France Cardiovascular Prosthetic Devices Market Outlook to 2020", provides key market data on the France Cardiovascular Prosthetic Devices market. The report provides value, in millions of US dollars, and volume (in units) and average price data (in US dollars), within market categories - Cardiac Valve Repairs and Septal Occluders.

Whiting Petroleum Corporation (Whiting) is an independent oil and gas company that explores, develops and produces crude oil, natural gas and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL), in the US. It operates in the Bakken Shale, in North Dakota and Montana, and the Niobrara Shale, in northeastern Colorado. Its Exploration and Production (E&P) activities are located primarily in the Permian Basin, the Rocky Mountains, the Mid-Continent, the Gulf Coast and Michigan. Its largest projects are in the Bakken and Three Forks plays, in North Dakota, the Niobrara play, in northeast Colorado, and Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) fields in Texas.

"Cyprus Upstream Fiscal and Regulatory Report", GlobalData's latest release, presents the essential information relating to the terms which govern investment into Cyprus' upstream oil and gas sector. The report sets out in detail the contractual framework which firms must operate in the industry, clearly defining factors affecting profitability and quantifying the state's take from hydrocarbon production. Considering political, economic and industry specific variables, the report also analyses future trends for Cyprus' upstream oil and gas investment climate.

MarketLines' Otto Group GmbH Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships & Alliances and Investments report includes business description, detailed reports on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), divestments, capital raisings, venture capital investments, ownership and partnership transactions undertaken by Otto Group GmbH since January 2007. These reports offer a comprehensive breakdown of the organic and inorganic growth activity undertaken by an organization to sustain its competitive advantage.

The migraine market is saturated with generic drugs, and the remaining branded products already on the market are expected to lose exclusivity during the next few years, with the exception of Botox for chronic migraine, which is expected to maintain its leading position in terms of sales. However, reformulations of mature products as well as new classes of therapies are anticipated to launch during the forecast period and these will contribute to the market growth. By 2023, the migraine market will grow to $3.7 billion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6%, with the US continuing to dominate the market as a result of higher drug prices and a large migraine population. Some of the new treatments are expected to target the key unmet needs but opportunities will remain for further treatment choices especially drugs that will offer an improved safety and side-effects profile.

We have made a modest upward revision to our forecast for Polish household expenditure over our five-year forecast period to 2018. In local currency terms, we expect household spending to increase by 30.5%, up from our forecast of 29.9% last quarter. This comes on the back of our upward revision to Polish economic growth in 2014. We had previously been forecasting real GDP growth of 2.6% in 2014. However, on the back of an ongoing export recovery, which has filtered through into marked improvements to the country's labour market, we are now forecasting Polish economic growth of 2.9%. Our robust, if unspectacular, growth forecast out to 2018, will ensure that Poland continues to attract retail investment and remains a competitive and dynamic market.

GlobalData's new report, "South Korea Cardiovascular Prosthetic Devices Market Outlook to 2020", provides key market data on the South Korea Cardiovascular Prosthetic Devices market. The report provides value, in millions of US dollars, and volume (in units) and average price data (in US dollars), within market categories - Cardiac Valve Repairs and Septal Occluders.

Summary "Romania Mobile Operator KPI Market to 2015: Additions by Operator " report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment for mobile operators. It is an essential tool for companies active across the telecom value chain in Romania and for new companies that may be considering entering the market.

The eurozone crises and the instability in the global financial system continued to make Portuguese consumers sceptical in 2013. Increased unemployment, especially amongst younger people, discouraged Portuguese consumers from spending money and taking out new loans. Economic fluctuations had a considerable influence on consumer behaviour, causing them to reduce their debts and increase their savings. In addition, lending conditions remained tight for many products at the end of the review...

Summary "Malaysia Smartphone Market to 2015: Mobile Handset Sales by Technology and by Generation" report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment for mobile operators. It is an essential tool for companies active across the telecom value chain in Malaysia and for new companies that may be considering entering the market.

MarketLines' John Wood Group PLC Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships & Alliances and Investments report includes business description, detailed reports on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), divestments, capital raisings, venture capital investments, ownership and partnership transactions undertaken by John Wood Group PLC since January 2007. These reports offer a comprehensive breakdown of the organic and inorganic growth activity undertaken by an organization to sustain its competitive advantage.

MarketLines' DXP Enterprises, Inc. Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships & Alliances and Investments report includes business description, detailed reports on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), divestments, capital raisings, venture capital investments, ownership and partnership transactions undertaken by DXP Enterprises, Inc. since January 2007. These reports offer a comprehensive breakdown of the organic and inorganic growth activity undertaken by an organization to sustain its competitive advantage.

Refrigeration appliances clocked slightly slower current value growth in 2013 than in 2012. Despite the relatively high penetration of refrigeration appliances in Malaysia, for instance fridge freezers was at 58% penetration in 2013, consumers' trading up to advanced refrigeration appliances such as eco-friendly products continued to contribute to the category's current value performance in 2013. Heightened environmental concerns amongst consumers saw them increasingly preferring eco-friendly...

Summary "Malaysia Fixed Operator Market to 2015: Voice Telephony Lines by Operator" report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment for mobile operators. It is an essential tool for companies active across the telecom value chain in Malaysia and for new companies that may be considering entering the market.

Strong economic growth, rising disposable incomes, an increasing acceptance of the concept of modern retailing, an enlarged consumer base created by the improved position of women in society, as well as more opportunities for Saudi workers, are all expected to result in steady growth for the Saudi Arabian retail sector over the next few years. Household spending will rise across all retail subsectors, but we are particularly bullish about the future growth prospects for restaurants & hotel spending, with expenditure on furnishing & home also forecast to grow strongly between 2014 and 2018. However, we expect personal, insurance & other expenditure to remain by far the largest subsector throughout our forecast period.

In 2013 pre-paid cards was far from saturation in Ukraine with per-capita consumption nearly negligible. It primarily comprised transportation cards of Kyivsky Metropoliten KP, valid in the Kyiv underground only. The rest of pre-paid cards were limited in variety, including e-wallets, parking and toll cards and gift cards as a rule. Overall, in 2013 the number of pre-paid cards comprised 726,000, with 20% growth on 2012.

Global thin-film solar module production capacity grew at a CAGR of 29% from 1,858 MW in 2008 to 6,568 MW by the year end 2013. However, demand for thin-film solar modules did not surge as significantly as the growth in thin-film module production capacity which resulted in higher overcapacity rate of 105% in the year 2012. It was in the year 2013 that surge in PV demand enabled the global thin-film solar module market to reduce its overcapacity rate to 76% in 2013. Although the global thin-film module market was able to reduce its overcapacity rate but it could not do enough to improve its utilization rate. As a result, the global thin-film module utilization rate declined to 59% in 2013. Despite First Solar being the undisputed leader in the global thin-film module production in 2013, its module production also plummeted from 1,875 MW in 2012 to 1,628 MW in 2013.

Confectionery Market in Faroe Islands: Databook to 2017" is the result of Canadean's extensive market research covering the Confectionery market in Faroe Islands.

Growth in total other dairy current value sales in 2013 was up on 2012, and also stronger than the review period CAGR. Cream, the dominant category, recorded a similar improvement in retail volume growth terms, while other key categories like chilled snacks and fromage frais and quark also performed well. This general improvement was underpinned by signs that the worst of the economic crisis was over, with growth in confidence about the prospects for recovery leading many Serbs to both increase...