The Greek economy has not yet returned to the pre -crisis (debt, pandemic and energy) levels – even in nominal terms – maintained pressure on the self -employed of commerce, and regional inequalities in terms of consumer expenditure remain strong.

This is the environment of uncertainty in which commercial enterprises are called upon to survive and develop, according to its conclusion ‘Annual Greek Trade Report for 2024The Hellenic Confederation of Trade and Entrepreneurship (ERC) presented today, while stressing that, in addition, international developments, US policy on duties and state domestic and European policies (linked to the highest salary with imputed taxable income) They facilitate entrepreneurship.

It is emphasized by the ERC that the international trade, a catalyst for international economic development, is expected to receive extremely strong pressure from the apparent “tariff shock”.

The main points of reflection on the future of trade as evidenced by the analysis of the data are:

– Turnover stagnation: Almost half of commercial companies face stagnation in a period of continuous increases in operating costs.

– Delay in digital and green transformation: Small and very small businesses give priority to survival, postponing their modernization.

– Change of consumer patterns: The nominal increase in consumption is primarily directed to essentials (food, medicines).

– Uncertainty and investment: International growing uncertainty is estimated to lead to delay in investment projects and consumer spending, thereby slowing the growth perspective.

Businesses face the following important challenges: Raising management, reducing consumer expenditure, high operating costs, taxation and lack of liquidity, difficulty finding suitable staff, and especially for energy costs it seems to continue to be a serious blow to the viability of small and medium -sized businesses.

As noted at the press conference, by ERC President Stavros Kafouni, the Greek trade market is at a crucial crossroads, as according to the report, 44% of retail companies report stagnation in turnover, with continuous increases in operating costs, with more than 52% (52%).

He also noted that increased turnover in trade (+1.9%) lays in inflation (+2.7%), creating a real shrinkage for the country’s largest employer, employing 16.3%of the workforce.

The small traditional shop leaves the market

So the new data, as mentioned, reveal a rapidly transformed market, with traditional small businesses continuing their exit (-8.9% reduction in self-employed), while consumers are mainly turning to essentials, trying to manage their budget.

The data confirms that the tendency of recent years continues to gradually abandon the market for traditional “NANO” businesses and self -employed, while the industry remains the country’s largest employer (16.3% of employment) with most employers in the economy (26.5%). This element, according to the ERC assessment, as well as the fact that the privately owned properties are reduced, is linked, in addition to the other factors, by the interruption of the transfer of businesses to the next generation.

In addition to funding sources, “rationalization” is presented, but atypical liquidity channels remain strong while consumer expenditure has moved, while increasing by 2023, when the statistics are stopped, but on the one hand, it was also highlighted by the necessary markets and the necessary goods and the necessary goods and the necessary goods. Nominal terms.

At the same time, regional inequalities, in terms of consumption, insist, despite the relevant programs, which – about traders – raises questions about the effectiveness of European regional policy.

However, according to data, commercial enterprises (SA, EIA and IKE) continued their upward trend in 2023. Although exogenous crises and geopolitical tensions weakened their dynamics, slowing down turnover (at +1.5%) and gross profits (10.6%). Small and medium -sized retail companies are stagnant, as they find it difficult to increase their turnover due to financial pressure and uncertainty on the market.

It is emphasized that the rise in supplier prices has led to unprecedented levels over the last nine years (36%) the percentage of businesses who have stopped working with a supplier.

There is a significant decline in the preference for domestically produced goods – although over time they were particularly high – in the midst of the risk of “tariff shock”, and as traders note, the position of commerce in international value chains are changing as “Made in Greece” products are reduced and this is yet another.

That is, as emphasized by the ERC, the dimension between “uncertainty” and the necessary transformation remains a key feature of the commercial ecosystems.