Parking, public transport major concerns for retailers

Parking, accessibility and public transport are the key factors affecting local retailers in Malta’s primary commercial districts, according to 23 per cent of operators, a PricewaterhouseCoopers study has found. Despite these concerns, most retailers believe business will be positive or stable this year after reporting a slower or flat season between December and January. Information for the barometer of retail market sentiment was collected during the third week of March among the food and beverage, clothing, ICT, cultural and recreational retail business community in Valletta, Sliema, Ħamrun and Paola. Retailers in these shopping districts also cited competition, customer spending ability and utility costs among the factors affecting their activity. The barometer reveals Christmas activity slowed considerably in Paola, where 56 per cent of respondents said December to January sales were down compared to 2011; 53 per cent of Ħamrun retailers reported a decrease in business, followed by Valletta (49 per cent) and Sliema (40 per cent). The negative sentiment in Paola and Ħamrun appears to linger for the rest of this year. In Paola, 44 per cent of retailers have a negative outlook,...