ReleaseWire

The popularity of smartphones, as well as their increased capabilities and improvements in photographic quality, impacted demand for imaging devices overall. Consumers are less willing to shell out for a second device that performs a similar function to their smartphone. At the same time, the average mass consumer also perceives carrying a second device that offers comparable features as cumbersome. However, a growing group of consumers increasingly taking photography seriously helps boost demand for higher-priced digital cameras.

This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the commercial construction industry in Bulgaria. It contains detailed historic and forecast market value data for the commercial construction industry, including a breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). 'Commercial Construction in Bulgaria to 2018: Market Forecast' provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the commercial construction industry in Bulgaria. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Bulgarian construction value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.

Debit cards remain the most popular type of financial card in Austria in 2014. Debit cards are expected to account for 58% of total cards payment transactions value during 2013, placing the category far ahead of charge cards with 26% and credit cards with 15%. This represents a one percentage point decline from the 59% of total payment card transactions value accounted for by debit cards at the start of the review period in 2009, a trend which can be attributed to the solid growth which has...

Towards the end of the review period, as a result of increasing health awareness, smokers are shifting to low tar and ultra low tar cigarettes. High tar cigarettes gradually declined in volume terms. Due to sustained investment in educational campaigns from both government agencies and non-governmental organisations, public awareness of the health risks associated with smoking improved throughout the review period.

The technological boom in Vietnam, with the rise of affordable 3G and free mobile text and call applications such as LINE and Viber, greatly contributed to the rising popularity of smartphones. Although feature phones are much cheaper in terms of unit price, consumers are increasingly willing to purchase smartphones, which are considered to offer greater convenience and functionality. With the abundance of free mobile applications, smartphone users can use their phones for a range of purposes such as playing games, reading the newspaper, listening to music, and navigation by GPS.

The Baby Sleep Site, the web's leading resource for exhausted parents of sleepless babies and toddlers, is pleased to announce the launch of its revolutionizing new product: The Express Sleep Plan™. The product now offers a completely new approach to sleep coaching, giving parents access to their own, customized sleep coaching plan by simply completing an online survey developed based on the extensive experience of The Baby Sleep Site's sleep team.

Hotels in Austria increased in current value by 3% in 2013, rising to ?5.8 billion. Hotels accounted for 77% of total travel accommodation retail at the end of 2013 and the strong position and positive performance of the category towards the end of the review period can be at least partially attributed to the increase being recorded in the number of outlets and the number of rooms due to the expansion in the number of both chained and independent hotels operating in the country. More importantly, value growth in hotels was boosted towards the end of the review period by the trend towards converting hotels and resorts into health and wellness centres which are destinations in their own right, a trend which was especially common among luxury hotels and mid-priced hotels. This way, hotels are able to become important tourist attractions in their own right, which contributed to the strong increases recorded in the number of guests and thus bed nights and total value sales in travel accommodation and Austria during 2013.

Salon care services include haircuts, shaving, hair coloring, hair straightening, facials, waxing, bleaching, manicures, and pedicures, among others. Various hair care services are available in the market depending on the type of hair and its requirements. Some hair care services are cutting, coloring, straightening, and organic hair glazing treatment. Salons also provide treatment for specific hair and scalp-related problems such as hair loss, dandruff, damaged hair, split ends, and itching.

ATM cards continue to grow along with the banked population and bank accounts in Indonesia as the unbanked population still comprises nearly half of the total population above 15 years old. Through the growing linked ATM networks of participating banks in Indonesia such as Prima Network or ATM Bersama, fund transfers or billing payments to various banks and merchants are made easier, faster and at lesser cost than the more traditional RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) and LLG (Lalu Lintas Giro...

During Soviet times, smoking tobacco was scarce as Russians smoked mainly papirosy or cigarettes. Smoking tobacco gained wider acceptance in the 1990s, being imported from Europe. Pipe tobacco is more popular than RYO tobacco. Both product types are expensive for most Russians and are regarded as premium products. Unlike premium cigarettes, smoking tobacco is regarded as a premium or gourmet product. It is affordable by more affluent consumers living in large cities. Unlike many European countries, RYO tobacco is not considered a cheap alternative to cigarettes.

The recent slowdown experienced in the Chilean economy had a mixed effect on the performance of leisure and personal goods specialist retailers in 2014, with the channel increasing in current value by 4% over the course of the year. Declining consumer confidence in Chile is most prevalent among the country?s low-income consumers, many of whom are becoming increasingly concerned about their long-term prospects for employment if the budgets of their employers are reduced following the publication of year-end financial results in March 2015. Chile?s high-income consumers, on the other hand, remained relatively secure in their positions and as a result they continue to spend money on personal accessories and leisure products.

This report brings together consumer insight and market data to provide a comprehensive brief of the Denmark Prepared Meals sector. This allows for the rapid identification of key growth opportunities across major Prepared Meals categories and their packaging.

This report provides detailed market analysis, information, trends, issues and insights into the global tunneling and drilling equipment market, including:

The Future of the Hot Drinks Market in Peru to 2018 is the result of Canadean's extensive market research. The report presents detailed analysis on the Hot Drinks consumption trends in Peru, historic and forecast Hot Drinks consumption volumes and values at market and category level, brand share and distribution channel data. This report brings together Canadean Intelligence's research, modeling and analysis expertise in order to develop uniquely detailed market data. This allows domestic and foreign companies to identify the market dynamics to account for Hot Drinks sales overall and to know which categories and segments are showing growth in the coming years.

Overall home audio and cinema retail volume sales are expected to drop by 4% in 2014 as consumers divert their spending power towards tablets and other portable smart electronics. Moreover, with long hours spent outside the home consumers increasingly turn to tablets and smartphones in search of mobile entertainment, as opposed to home audio and cinema products.

Global Markets Direct's, 'Gastroesophageal (GE) Junction Carcinomas - Pipeline Review, H2 2014', provides an overview of the Gastroesophageal (GE) Junction Carcinomas's therapeutic pipeline.

Restrictive import regulations and price controls generated strong product shortages in many categories. Venezuelans were highly concerned about finding basic products such as milk, corn flour, vegetable oil, deodorants and washing powder. Products with prices regulated by the government - therefore kept artificially low - recorded the highest shortages. This situation caused nervous purchases because consumers always fear that the product will be absent on the next visit. At the same time...

The trend developing all over packaged food products of consuming healthier goods is also taking shape in biscuits. As consumers are more concerned about their health they tend to look for products that are less processed and with healthier ingredients, such as whole wheat, reduced fat and reduced salt content. This trend is mainly evident among upper-middle and upper-income adults, as children still prefer tastier options which usually tend to be high in sugar.

Caracas is a city with a population of more than three million, crammed into a valley in northern Venezuela. Over 2000-2010, Venezuela's oil revenues did not compensate for mismanagement of the city. The city's infrastructure deteriorated and a notable share of Caracas residents is entrenched in slum areas. Nonetheless, with an average household disposable income of US$39,000, Caracas tops most other major Latin American metropolises, including Santiago, Mexico City and Sao Paulo.

A strong climate of consumer confidence, supported by increasing levels of disposable income amongst Saudis, led to increased spending on home audio and cinema in Saudi Arabia in 2014. Limited entertainment options outside the home means that Saudis have developed a culture of investing strongly in at home audio and cinema products, since it is in the home that most entertainment takes place. It is therefore common to find home cinemas with sophisticated sound equipment in many homes in the Kingdom. It is therefore a natural progression that higher levels of disposable income should translate directly into more spending on home audio and cinema products.

Following a year in which BMI saw mixed growth dynamics across Russia's freight transport sector, with volumes either declining or growth slowing in most of the freight modes, 2015 will signal a further slowdown as the country's economy is expected to contract and the main driver of growth over the past decade - household consumption - continues to weaken.

Government economic policies continued deteriorating the local business environment in 2014. As a result, sales through electronics and appliance specialist retailers were negatively affected. Fixing and maintaining an artificially overvalued exchange rate to the US dollar in combination with restricting the availability of foreign currency exchange devastated local consumer electronics. Most products are imported, but US dollars needed to bring in products are largely unavailable. Local production is limited and stifled since input components are lacking. According to interviews with local experts, shortages of consumer appliances are consistently above 50%. In late 2013, government agreements with Mabe and Samsung to produce locally in Venezuela were uninspiring since the previous agreement with Haier had yet to produce a single unit. In addition to import restrictions, the channel faced the new Law of Fair Price established in 2014 to control all economic activities. This law fixes the maximum profit margin to sell any goods or service to 30% but the government approves the costs included in the calculation after analysis of private firms? cost structure.

Macedonias birth rate stagnated throughout the review period and was showing negative population trends in 2013 which are set to last throughout the forecast period. A number of measures were undertaken by the Macedonian Government to curb negative demographics. Some of those measures were abolished by the Constitutional Court of Macedonia such as that providing financial support to boost birth rates in specific geographic areas which the Court deemed to be unconstitutional as it favoured some geographic regions over others.

This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the commercial construction industry in Turkey. It contains detailed historic and forecast market value data for the commercial construction industry, including a breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). 'Commercial Construction in Turkey to 2018: Market Forecast' provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the commercial construction industry in Turkey. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Turkish construction value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.

Home and garden specialist retailers saw a disappointing performance in 2014, suffering from maturity and intense competition. An uncertain economic climate in 2013 and 2014 also constrained sales, encouraging consumers to postpone investments such as new furniture or refurbishing their homes. Consumers also increasingly compared prices, opting for the more affordable products often found in larger chained operators. To an extent sales also migrated to internet retailing.