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Cyprus Retail Sector Sees Robust Growth In Turnover And Volume Indices In May 2025

The latest figures from Cyprus’ state statistical service underscore the resilience of the nation’s retail sector, with the Turnover Value Index rising by 8.4% and the Turnover Volume Index surging by 10.0% in May 2025 compared to the previous year. This performance across multiple retail segments signals positive momentum amid evolving market dynamics.

Segmented Growth Across Key Categories

Supermarkets, representing non-specialised food, beverage, and tobacco outlets, experienced a robust increase with a value index of 141.3—a 10.4% improvement from May 2024. In the realm of specialised food retailers, the sector fared even better, recording a value index of 150.5 with a 13.1% gain. Conversely, automotive fuel saw a contraction, with its value index dipping by 5.6% to 117.8.

Diverse Performance In Electronics, Household Goods And More

Categories such as information and communication equipment and other household essentials including furniture, electrical appliances, and construction materials also demonstrated resilience. The former achieved a modest 1.4% increase to a value index of 107.9, while the latter surged by 11.2% to an index of 126.1. Clothing and footwear reported a notable value index of 145.1, up 8.4% year-on-year, reinforcing the adaptability of consumer spending across diverse segments.

Luxuries And Alternative Channels Outperform

Luxury items and second-hand goods, which include flowers, plants, jewellery, and optical goods, excelled with the highest value index at 201.6, marking a 10.9% rise. In addition, retail sales outside conventional stores experienced a significant boost, climbing 21.9% to a value index of 117.1. This underscores the burgeoning influence of online and alternative retail channels in the evolving market landscape.

Volume Index: A Testament To Strong Consumer Activity

Examining the volume indices further reinforces the narrative of a dynamic retail market. Supermarkets posted a volume index of 120.1 with a 9.2% increase, while specialised food outlets reached a volume index of 121.7, rising 6.3%. Notably, clothing and footwear achieved a volume index of 141.9, up by 14.7%, highlighting strong consumer engagement in this sector. Information and communication equipment, along with household items, exhibited healthy volume growth, underscoring robust consumer activity across the board.

Overall Outlook For The Retail Trade Landscape

When considering the retail market excluding automotive fuel, overall figures paint a picture of sustained growth—a value index of 136.8 (up 8.4%) and a volume index of 121.4 (up 10.0%). These comprehensive metrics reflect a retail environment that is both adaptive and resilient, providing critical insights for industry stakeholders and investors as Cyprus continues to navigate its economic evolution.

In summary, the varied performance across retail sub-sectors in Cyprus in May 2025 underscores a robust market trajectory, driven by adaptive consumer trends and strategic shifts toward digital and alternative retail formats. For business leaders and market analysts, these trends offer compelling evidence of the retail sector’s capacity to sustain growth amid dynamic economic conditions.

TikTok Elevates Songwriters With Enhanced Profile Features

Introducing Enhanced Visibility For Songwriters

TikTok is poised to transform the way songwriters promote their craft by integrating a suite of new features designed to highlight their musical works on the platform. Now in beta, the update includes a dedicated “Songwriter” label and a specialized profile tab that showcases their songs, allowing creators to build a more compelling narrative around their artistry.

Survey-Driven Innovation

The enhancements stem from extensive research, with TikTok surveying over 870 songwriters and conducting in-depth interviews to identify the key needs in profile building and monetization. Supplementary data from an independent study further confirmed that more than half of social media-savvy songwriters rely on TikTok for profile promotion. Such rigorous market research underpins TikTok’s commitment to driving tangible benefits for creative professionals.

Selective Rollout and Strategic Partnerships

At present, only a limited group of publishing partners and songwriters have access to the new features. Interested parties must join a waitlist to take part in this initiative, emphasizing TikTok’s strategy of fostering an exclusive ecosystem that prioritizes high-quality content and strategic industry alliances.

Competitive Momentum In The Music Streaming Arena

TikTok’s new tools arrive at a time when competitors are also enhancing their songwriter engagement. Spotify, for instance, has been offering dedicated features for songwriters over the years, while Tidal recently expanded its offerings by introducing royalty tracking capabilities. Despite discontinuing its TikTok Music streaming service last year, the platform continues to serve as a vital hub for music discovery and artist promotion.

Empowering Creative Storytelling

“We are passionately committed to supporting songwriters at TikTok, which is why we built these tools to celebrate and elevate their work on our platform,” stated TikTok’s Global Head of Music Publishing Licensing and Partnership. By enabling songwriters to seamlessly integrate their musical narrative with their personal content, TikTok is not only enhancing profile visibility but also building a more engaging, multi-dimensional user experience.

As TikTok continues to innovate, these developments are set to redefine how songwriters connect with their audiences and manage their creative endeavors, reaffirming the platform’s role as a pivotal force in the digital music landscape.

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