kathimerini.gr
Greek Retail Sales Decline Amid Inflation
During the first half of 2025, Greek retail sales excluding supermarkets, fuel, and vehicles, saw a nominal increase of only 1.4%, lagging behind inflation at 2.5%, resulting in a real decrease of 0.3% compared to the same period in 2024.
- How did the inflation crisis affect different sized retail businesses in Greece?
- Large retailers saw a 9.2% nominal sales increase (7.3% real), while medium-sized businesses experienced stagnation. Small businesses faced a 4% nominal decrease (5.6% real), and very small businesses a 2.3% real decrease, highlighting the disproportionate impact on smaller enterprises.
- What are the long-term implications for the Greek retail sector based on these trends?
- The widening gap between large and small businesses, coupled with persistently low real sales growth, suggests a challenging outlook for the sector. Continued inflation and limited access to credit for smaller firms may lead to further consolidation and closures, potentially reshaping the market landscape.
- What is the overall impact of inflation on Greek retail sales in the first half of 2025?
- While nominal retail sales increased by 1.4%, this was outpaced by inflation of 2.5%, leading to a real decrease of 0.3%. This signifies a reduction in purchasing power and overall sales volume compared to the previous year.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article focuses on the negative impact of inflation on small and medium-sized retail businesses, highlighting the widening gap between them and larger corporations. The headline and introduction emphasize the struggles faced by smaller businesses, potentially influencing the reader to perceive the situation as overwhelmingly negative for this segment. The use of phrases like "χαριστική βολή" (death blow) further reinforces this negative framing.
Language Bias
The article uses strong language such as "χαριστική βολή" (death blow) to describe the impact of inflation on small businesses. While factually accurate in portraying the economic hardship, this choice of words is emotionally charged and may influence readers' perception beyond the mere economic data. More neutral alternatives could be "significant setback" or "substantial decline.
Bias by Omission
The article primarily focuses on the negative impacts on smaller businesses, offering limited insight into the strategies employed by larger retailers that allowed them to thrive during this period. While it mentions larger businesses adapting to e-commerce during the pandemic, it does not delve into details of their strategies or broader market responses. This omission might give an incomplete picture of the situation and prevent the reader from understanding the multifaceted nature of the challenges and successes within the retail sector.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a clear dichotomy between large and small businesses, portraying a stark contrast in their performance during the inflationary period. While this contrast exists, the analysis could benefit from acknowledging the diversity within these categories and examining the nuanced factors impacting individual businesses, beyond size. For instance, some smaller businesses might have been more resilient due to niche markets or unique strategies.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the widening gap between large and small retail businesses due to consecutive crises, including inflation. This exacerbates economic inequality, as smaller businesses struggle to compete and face closures, while larger businesses thrive. The disproportionate impact on small businesses worsens income disparity and limits economic opportunities for a larger segment of the population. The fact that only large businesses saw increased turnover in the first half of 2025 while smaller businesses experienced a decrease directly reflects this inequality.