According to the trade association, purchasing in Austrian retail is highly dependent on the weather. In some regions, there was less street shopping than normal last Friday and Saturday due to the wet, winter conditions.
“But overall, it was a good start to the Advent and Christmas activities, with which retailers can be reasonably satisfied,” said director Rainer Will of the trade association in a press release on Monday. Thanks to the winter weather, the Christmas markets were very well attended during the weekend. People mainly bought warm sweaters, jackets and gloves, but also first Christmas presents.
Turnover decreased during Black Week
“Black Week, in which many retailers attracted visitors with promotions and bargains, was so far the busiest week of the year in local shopping streets. However, sales were approximately eight percent below those of the previous year. In contrast, customer frequency was four percent lower in the week before the first Sunday of Advent,” says Will.
According to a survey by the trade association (November 21 to December 1), 92 percent of respondents want to buy Christmas presents this year. Vouchers, toys, candy and cash are especially popular. Other gifts include shared activities, personal care and cosmetic products, clothing, books and homemade items.
Almost one in five people has already bought all the presents
At the time of the survey, 17 percent had purchased all their Christmas presents, and almost every second person (46 percent) had purchased at least a few. However, another third of consumers do all their Christmas shopping in December.
There is currently a threat of further warning strikes in the retail sector in the battle to reach a pay deal for more than 430,000 workers across Austria. Negotiations will continue on Thursday. “Both parties will have to move, but the Chamber of Commerce even more so,” says GPA chief negotiator Helga Fichtinger. According to her, striking is a human right (see video above).
Trade CO: 9.4 versus 6 percent
If the fifth round does not yield a conclusion, the warning attacks will continue on Friday. Recently there were warning strikes at more than 300 retailers across Austria. The employer initially offered a five percent salary increase and a one-off payment of 800 euros. It is now six percent and a one-off bonus of 1,000 euros. The association lowered its demand from 9.5 percent and a fixed amount of 40 euros per month to 9.4 percent plus a fixed amount of 15 euros. The representatives reject one-time payments.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
