Croatians spend more despite big drop during boycotts

Despite a series of consumer boycotts in January, data shows that Croatians spent more in the first month of 2025 compared to the same period last year.

Inflation has played a role in the rise of overall spending, but the fact that spending increased more than twice the rate of inflation suggests other factors were also at play, as Lider.hr writes.

January Spending on the Rise

Consumer group ‘Halo, inspektore’ led boycotts of major retailers in January, with the most notable one taking place on 17 January. That boycott saw the number of transactions drop by 44%, and the total sales value fall by 53%.

This movement was aimed at protesting rising prices, but despite the initiative, overall spending still saw a significant increase.

According to Tax Administration data, from 1 to 31 January 2025, the number of issued receipts rose by around 4 million (a 2.34% increase) compared to the same month in 2024.

Meanwhile, the total value of transactions jumped by 10.03%—from €2.57 billion to €2.83 billion.

With inflation in January recorded at 4%, the data indicates that the rise in spending cannot be attributed to price hikes alone. Consumers may have opted for higher-priced goods and services, or taken advantage of January sales.

Additionally, year-end bonuses and tax-free allowances, usually paid in late December or early January, likely contributed to increased spending.

February Shows a Different Trend

However, early February data suggests a shift. In the first ten days of the month, the number of transactions fell by 7.38% compared to the same period last year. The total value of transactions remained almost unchanged, dropping slightly by just 0.07%. This indicates that while people shopped less frequently, their individual purchases were of similar value.

Boycotts continued into February, targeting major retailers such as Lidl, Eurospin, and dm, as well as brands like Coca-Cola and various household products.

By mid-February, the boycotts expanded to bakeries, petrol stations, restaurants, cafés, and online stores, with general boycotts taking place every Friday.

What’s Next?

Despite the boycotts, spending in January was significantly higher than the previous year, likely because the first major protest only began on 17 January. A clearer picture of consumer behaviour will emerge when final figures for February are released.

Additionally, retail sales data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, expected in early March, will provide further insights into how these protests are affecting businesses.

For now, boycotts continue. The latest initiative targets retailer Studenac, and on 28 February, ‘Halo, inspektore’ is calling for another nationwide boycott, inspired by America’s ‘Economic Blackout Day’.

With more protests likely ahead, it remains to be seen how Croatian consumers and retailers will respond in the coming months.