The first bar chart compares the proportion of food being sold in supermarkets in 1998 versus 2008, while the second bar chart illustrates that of goods over the same period.
Overall, for both food and goods, an upward trajectory was observed in all three nations, with country A recording the most notable growth and eventually topping the chart. In addition, the figures for country C consistently ranked lowest, while that of country B were relatively stable.
The popularity growth of food and goods purchased in supermarkets in country A was the most notable, with figures merely stood at 10% and under 5% respectively in 1998, ranking second. However, these numbers surged to around 35% and nearly 40% in the same order, outperforming country B by more than 10 percentage points, and country C by more than 20 percentage points, solidifying its top position.
Country C also observed a noteworthy growth from around 2% to nearly 15% in goods, though it only rose marginally to approximately 7% in terms of food by the end. Regarding country B, in 1998, it ranked first, with figures standing at 22% and 24%. Nevertheless, its dominant position did not last long, since merely around 27% of food in this country and around 26% of goods were purchased in supermarkets up until the next 10 years.