Dark times not yet over

The western European market for sun blinds will not show any convincing growth in 2009. According to the latest study by Interconnection Consulting, a decline in value of 8.5 per cent is expected in the top 5 countries for 2009. The roller shutter market is developing in most countries in parallel with the windows market: in the top 5 countries (Spain, Italy, France, Germany and the UK), a decline in value of 9.6 per cent is to be expected for 2009. Spain is hardest hit, where a drop of 17.5 per cent is assumed. Considerably smaller declines are expected for France (3.5 per cent) and Germany (3.3 per cent). No recovery is expected in any of the five countries before 2011, the study forecasts.