Despite the financial crisis and record-high gas prices, the Swiss are still in the mood to shop. Retailers posted a 4.6 percent increase in sales to 19.2 billion francs in the first half of 2008. The increase of 837 million francs compared to the previous year came primarily from food sales, which rose by 6.1 percent to 11.1 billion francs. This is shown by a survey conducted by the market research institute GfK among 19 retailers.So-called convenience products—such as ready-to-eat meals, pre-packaged sandwiches, pre-made salads, and salad dressings—are becoming increasingly popular (+11.4 percent). Bread (+8.8 percent) and dairy products (+6.7 percent) also recorded significantly higher sales.The non-food market saw an overall increase of 2 percent in the first half of 2008. Spending on the category of laundry and cleaning products, personal care, and pet food rose by 3.4 percent. Sales of furniture, household and garden goods, and stationery rose by 3.5 percent. Euro 08 Made the Beer Flow The European Soccer Championship helped boost sales of beer, sausages, and chips: In June, 15 percent more beer was consumed than in the same month the previous year. In addition, 11 percent more sausages and 9 percent more chips were eaten. Sales of sporting goods soared by 15 percent in June. Sales of bags and backpacks were up as much as 18 percent compared to June 2007. TV retailers, however, came up empty-handed: In June, sales of TVs and video equipment dropped by 3 percent. Sales of cameras plummeted by as much as a quarter. Despite the advertising hype leading up to the European Soccer Championship, sales of TVs and video equipment rose by only 4 percent over the entire first half of the year. Camera retailers had to cope with a 9 percent decline.

 Despite the financial crisis and record-high gas prices, the Swiss are still in the mood to shop. Retailers posted a 4.6 percent increase in sales to 19.2 billion francs in the first half of 2008. The increase of 837 million francs compared to the previous year came primarily from food sales, which rose by 6.1 percent to 11.1 billion francs. This is shown by a survey conducted by the market research institute GfK among 19 retailers. So-called convenience products—such as ready-to-eat meals, pre-packaged sandwiches, pre-made salads, and salad dressings—are becoming increasingly popular (+11.4 percent). Bread (+8.8 percent) and dairy products (+6.7 percent) also posted significantly higher sales.
The non-food market saw an overall increase of 2 percent in the first half of 2008. Spending in the laundry and cleaning supplies, personal care, and pet food category rose by 3.4 percent. Sales of furniture, household and garden goods, and stationery items increased by 3.5 percent.
Euro 08 Made the Beer Flow The European Soccer Championship helped boost sales of beer, sausages, and chips: In June, 15 percent more beer was consumed than in the same month the previous year. In addition, 11 percent more sausages and 9 percent more chips were eaten.
Sales of sporting goods surged by 15 percent in June. Sales of bags and backpacks were up as much as 18 percent compared to June 2007. TV retailers, however, came up empty-handed: Sales of TVs and video equipment dropped by 3 percent in June. Sales of cameras plummeted by as much as a quarter. Despite the advertising blitz leading up to the European Soccer Championship, sales of TVs and video equipment rose by only 4 percent over the entire first half of the year. Camera retailers had to cope with a 9 percent decline.