Consumers - Retail: Christmas business sluggish after a good start
Christmas sales in the retail sector in Berlin and Brandenburg are now slower after a strong start. "We got off to a good start," said Wolfgang Kampmeier, Deputy Managing Director of the Berlin-Brandenburg Retail Association, to the German Press Agency. "With the start of the Christmas markets and the snow, we had full city centers. This continued even after the first Sunday open for business on 1 Advent."
With the change in the weather, however, business has slowed considerably in the last week or two. "The desire to buy is waning, we are noticing a reluctance to spend again," said Kampmeier. This is also due to the numerous reports of austerity measures in connection with the budget discussions these days. Even the food retail sector is feeling the pinch, he said.
Overall, retail sales are currently at around the same level as last year's Christmas sales. Compared to the pre-coronavirus year 2019, however, the industry is six percent below the level at that time.
Retailers are pinning high hopes on the upcoming second Sunday open for business this weekend. According to the trade association, this is usually the busiest day of the year in terms of sales.
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- Despite the sluggish Christmas business in Berlin and Brandenburg, retailers are looking forward to a potentially busy day this weekend, with the second Sunday open for business expected to be one of the year's busiest in terms of sales.
- The economic situation in Berlin and Brandenburg, as reflected in the retail trade, has seen a slowdown in sales after a strong start, possibly due to the numerous reports of austerity measures in connection with budget discussions.
- Although retail sales in Berlin and Brandenburg during the Christmas period are currently at around the same level as last year, the industry is still six percent below the level it was at in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic.
- According to Deputy Managing Director of the Berlin-Brandenburg Retail Association, Wolfgang Kampmeier, retailers in the region had a promising beginning to the Christmas business with full city centers, thanks to the start of the Christmas markets and the arrival of snow, which continued even after the first Sunday open for business on 1 Advent.
Source: www.stern.de
