HGK: Spending for Easter Holidays Will Exceed Last Year

The Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK) estimates that citizens will spend more than 1.95 billion euros for the Easter holidays this year, specifically in the four weeks leading up to Easter, which is nine percent more compared to the same comparable period last year, they reported on Tuesday from HGK.

They note that positive macroeconomic indicators and the growth in retail sales recorded since the beginning of the year suggest that spending for the upcoming Easter holidays will be higher compared to 2024, when retail sales reached 1.8 billion euros in the four weeks leading up to Easter.

According to the latest available data, there is a slight increase in fiscalized invoices of 2.1 percent in the comparable period this year, an increase in the amount of fiscalized invoices by 9.54 percent, as well as an increase in the average invoice amount by 5.75 percent.

– Assuming the trend continues, it is estimated that we will spend more than 1.95 billion euros in the four weeks leading up to Easter this year, which is nine percent more compared to last year – emphasized HGK.

According to data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS), in the first two months of this year, seasonally adjusted retail trade turnover increased by 3.5 percent compared to the same period last year. Additionally, in February, there was an annual increase in retail trade turnover of 2.6 percent, continuing the positive trend – retail has recorded annual growth for the 23rd consecutive month, HGK states.

– Given that personal consumption is the largest component of gross domestic product (GDP), the continued growth of retail trade in the first months of this year indicates stable economic growth in the first quarter of 2025, despite the challenges posed by geopolitical uncertainties. Easter, which falls later this year, is traditionally associated with the beginning of the tourist season, which may further influence consumption – stated Maja Bogović, Director of the Trade Sector at HGK.

What Food Items Have Become Cheaper and Which Have Become More Expensive?

Looking at product groups involved in Easter consumption, compared to April last year, the prices of baking ingredients have decreased for flour (0.4 percent), eggs (0.9 percent), and sugar (9.1 percent), while dried fruits and nuts (12.5 percent) and chocolate (26 percent) have increased in price.

Among other food items commonly found on holiday tables, pork (two percent), fresh vegetables (one percent), and potatoes (nine percent) have decreased in price, as well as frozen fish (2.5 percent) and olive oil (five percent), while lamb (five percent), poultry (0.5 percent), dried or salted meat (3.3 percent), and fresh or chilled fish (9.3 percent) have increased in price, according to HGK’s statement.

The Chamber has urged consumers to choose quality domestic products marked with the recognizable labels Croatian Quality and Original Croatian whenever possible during these holidays, which confirm excellence and origin.

In this way, production is directly encouraged, and the competitiveness of the Croatian economy is strengthened, which is the key message of the Buy Croatian campaign that HGK has been conducting for nearly three decades, they stated from HGK.