Serbian consumer spending jumps 20%

Leading retail chains in Serbia have done great business over the last three weeks as household spending jumped 20 percent. The biggest demand in terms of non-food products centered on personal care and hygiene along with household cleaning products. The most popular food items were flour, sugar, frozen vegetables, canned tuna and eggs. Pasta, frozen pastries and cooking oil products also moved quickly as did the usual panic-time favorite: toilet paper. Studies suggest that the share of items being sold at a discount fell and that younger people were less likely to stock up on supplies than older people. Belgrade and Vojvodina consumers were more active shoppers than those living in the east and south of the country.