The increase in tourist flows to Greece in July stimulated retail business with sales up 13.3%, according to results published this week by the Greek statistical authority (ELSTAT).
Specifically, overall retail sales for July were up 13.3% from July 2020 and 1.0% from June. The retail volume index also increased by 11.6% compared to July 2020 and up 3.9% compared to June.
ELSTAT analysts attribute this increase to the increase in tourist flows both domestic and incoming in July. Leading in terms of sales, pharmacies selling relevant products and cosmetics saw their turnover index increase by 23.9% to 143.5 from 115.8 in July last year.
Moreover, according to the same data, sales (at current prices) increased in July this year compared to July 2020 by 21.6% for clothing and footwear stores, by 19.6% in gas stations. service, 10.3% in supermarkets, 7.7% in bookstores. , 15.3% in specialized food stores, 10.3% in household appliance, furniture and electrical item stores.
The only retail category that saw a decline in revenue is department stores, which ELSTAT analysts say is the result of consumers still being hesitant to shop there due to Covid-19 fears.
In terms of sales volume, service stations saw sales value increase by 19.6%, but sales volume increased by 2.9%, a sign of soaring fuel prices around the world.
The volume of sales in supermarkets increased by 8.6% and at grocery stores by 13.3%. According to a study published by NielsenIQ, the increases are also attributed to tourism, particularly in the regions of Macedonia and Thrace, where supermarket sales increased by 11.4%, in Crete by 11.3% and in the Peloponnese. by 7.7%.
Meanwhile, tourism too boosted employment in July due to greater demand for tourist services.
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