Trade loses more than 10,000 establishments and 40,000 jobs by the slowdown in consumption.

The contraction of consumption over the past year has caused the disappearance of 1% of the Spanish retail trade sector, which has closed between 10,000 and 12,000 establishments and has lost between 30,000 and 40,000 jobs, according to estimates by the Spanish Confederation of Trade (CEC).

The contraction of consumption over the past year has caused the disappearance of 1% of the Spanish retail trade sector, which has closed between 10,000 and 12,000 establishments and has lost between 30,000 and 40,000 jobs, according to estimates by the Spanish Confederation of Trade (CEC).

Speaking to Reuters, the secretary general of the CEC, Miguel Angel Fraile, said that this is the first negative balance of the past eight years, since between 2000 and 2007 the sector recorded an annual growth of around 1.5 % in number of businesses and workers.

However, said the initial estimates of the CEC were older and felt that the crisis has bottomed out, "so that while the first half of 2009 is expected" hard "in the sector, the trend will change in the second half of the year.

"It will be a difficult year and the first half will be little more adjustments," said Frei, who nevertheless said that "the data are now much more optimistic" and now there is no reason to meet the fears of the Confederation about the possible disappearance of a 10% of the sector in 2009, with the loss of 200,000 jobs.

In his view, businesses that disappeared in 2008 were already in a position of weakness and difficulty "accelerated" its purpose. It is engaged principally in the sectors hardest hit by the crisis, as the team's home or car, as well as trade-related entertainment, gift shops and bazaars.

In any case, the CEC believes that small businesses will lose fewer jobs than large supermarkets and franchises across a more complicated situation. "

FALL OF THE BILLING

The small business ended 2008 with sales between 5% and 10% lower than the previous year, as detailed Fraile, who said that sales "are going better than expected", so that compared to the forecast Initial reduce turnover to 15%, it will be in a decline of between 5% and 10%.

According to the expectations have improved because the "pressure" on prices has had a positive result, while the cold wave has encouraged the consumption of textile products from the winter season.

Europa Press. January 21, 2009.