RETAIL TRADE AND THE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMEN

Izvorni znanstveni članak

Behind the dynamic changes in the Croatian retail trade there are a large number of factors, but the economic environment is particularly outstanding. The growing rate of GDP and earnings contribute to growing consumption and to growing retail sales. The low purchasing power and unsatisfactory (insufficient) growth of GDP limit the growth of GDP limit the growth of retail sales. Consumers look for the cheapest purchasing sources, which intensify the price competition, consolidation of companies and concentration of market share in retail trade. The winners are mass distribution systems and the loosers are independent and unrestructured retailers, who must implement the strategies of structural adjustment in order to increase the competitiveness of prices and trading offer.