Troubled times for traders. Spurred on by rising prices, more and more of them in Portugal began to stop working, Learn this morning in pagesespresso.
The weekly breakdown shows the results of a survey conducted by the National Statistical Institute (INE) during the months of November, December and January. Conclusion ? On average, 18 stores are closed daily across the country.
A total of 1,639 stores closed during the quarter, double the number of stores open, and more than double the number of closures recorded during the same period last year. Asked by the paper, João Vieira-López, president of the Portuguese Trade and Services Confederation, is not really reassuring:
The trend is worrying and will inevitably show up in the unemployment figures. The situation is expected to get progressively worse in the coming months.”
Difficulties finding housing and food
Smaller clothing stores are the hardest hit. 88% of households say they have reduced their spending on clothing, continuing espresso. But stationery stores, grocery stores and even mini markets are also hit hard by inflation. If the hairdresser is having difficulty, “Paradoxically, bookstores seem to be spared and book sales are on the rise.” (13.4% in 2022).
From November to January, 1,388 restaurants also closed permanently, up 69% from those that opened and nearly three times the closures observed during the same period last year, he notes. espresso, that specify:
“Small establishments in business districts are hardest hit as more employees bring in home-cooked meals to save money.”
Finally, the weekly adds that, according to the consumer protection association Deco Proteste, 44% of Portuguese families find it difficult to find housing and food, especially due to the rise in food prices, which reached 21.1% last year, the highest percentage since 1990. .
