A new survey by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry reflects retail activity during the Easter season.
The survey was conducted on behalf of the Chamber by the Institute of Commerce and Services (INEMY) of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE).
Among the survey’s findings, the decline in sales stands out compared to the corresponding period in 2025, a trend linked to broader market trends recorded overall for the first four months of 2026.
On an annual basis, 41% of businesses report a decline in sales this year compared to 2025, indicating an overall market slowdown.
The survey also reveals that, both in Attica and the rest of the country, consumers preferred cheaper products, reflecting households’ limited financial capacity.
It also highlights the incomplete digital transformation of retail businesses, as while card payments clearly dominate, accounting for 77% of transactions—confirming the shift toward electronic payments— the digital sales channel lags behind, as only 38% of businesses in Attica offer remote sales capabilities.
In a statement, the President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Yannis Hatzitheodosiou, noted:
“Our assessment of lower market activity during the Easter period, compared to last year, is confirmed by the findings of the new major survey conducted by INEMY of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) on behalf of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (EEA).
Rising inflation and prolonged cost pressures, mainly due to the economic consequences of the war in the Middle East, are steadily eroding citizens’ incomes and limiting their purchasing power, which results in reduced consumption. This is undoubtedly an unfortunate development for the entire business world.
At this critical juncture, when the country’s small and medium-sized enterprises are seeing their operating costs rise steadily and their turnover shrink, targeted interventions by the government are more than necessary.
While wages and pensions may have increased nominally, consumers’ real purchasing power has declined.
The latest support measures provide some relief to a large segment of society, but more drastic measures are needed to curb prices and support SMEs.
The Athens Chamber of Commerce has submitted specific proposals, such as reducing indirect taxes, even if only for a limited period, the abolition of tax obligations dating back to the years of the memoranda, the strengthening of liquidity for small and medium-sized enterprises, and substantive measures to reduce private debt that threatens the viability of SMEs and professionals.”