Nicosia: The Easter market saw satisfactory activity, with no significant problems, Secretary of the Cyprus Retail Trade Association (PASYLE) Marios Antoniou told CNA on Monday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Antoniou mentioned that this year presented different conditions compared to previous years, due to the war in the Middle East and foot-and-mouth disease. However, he noted that the retail sector has endured a series of crises in recent years.
"Despite the concern, at least so far, the supply chain has not been disrupted. There was an adequate supply of products in the market, and we did not experience any shortages," he stated.
Antoniou also highlighted that, despite the new conditions, there were no price increases in products. The increases observed in lamb were attributed to foot-and-mouth disease rather than the war.
He explained that the current circumstances are affecting consumer psychology, which is closely linked to consumption. Nevertheless, he confirmed that the market moved at satisfactory levels, both in terms of footfall and consumption, with supermarkets and shopping malls experiencing considerable activity.
Comparing the Easter period to Christmas, Antoniou remarked that Easter is typically significant for supermarkets, bakeries, and butcher shops. Despite the challenges, he expressed satisfaction with the market's performance.
Regarding the broader retail sector, such as clothing and footwear, Antoniou emphasized the influence of weather conditions. Low temperatures did not encourage shoppers to purchase the new collection. He indicated that as temperatures stabilize, activity in these sectors is expected to increase.
Antoniou also noted that retail stores in purely tourist areas underperformed, as these areas are directly linked to tourism. April saw losses due to hotel cancellations, impacting retail trade. He expressed hope for improvements in the tourism sector, as its benefits are reflected in retail, particularly in tourist areas.