The news has moved away, to some degree, from the vaccination roll out, the lockdowns and the general pandemic messaging. The feel around EMEA is increasingly around when as opposed to if the pandemic will get under control.
Many countries have seen the number of infections and deaths fall to the lowest levels seen since Autumn (Northern Hemisphere) in 2020. This is not to downplay the challenges that we still face and the countries that are seeing more strict lockdown rules being brought in but rather a light getting brighter at the end of a long tunnel.
The evidence amongst those countries that have seen the economy open is positive. People are evidently very positive about getting back to shops, restaurants, bars and to once again go on holiday (if for now locally).
The evidence amongst those countries that have seen the economy open is positive. People are evidently very positive about getting back to shops, restaurants, bars and to once again go on holiday (if for now locally).
The pent up demand is a real thing, according to recent reports in the FT there is a global savings stockpile of $5.4trillion! This money is likely to be spent across many different consumer markets and the fact that consumer confidence is back to pre-GFC levels, people believe life is getting better!
The role of the physical environments to support consumers as they move back to a life more normal is extremely valuable.
