Amman – Raed Sbeih

A number of merchants in the Jordanian markets crossed over to “compassThey expressed their hope for an improvement in the movement of the markets, which witnessed a noticeable decline compared to previous years, stressing that the start of paying salaries before the Eid and the “possibility” that there is little hope of postponing the installments may contribute well to improving the movement and the demand for buying Eid supplies such as sweets, clothes, etc., during the last days of the holiday. blessed month of Ramadan.

“inchShe toured the markets, which appeared fluctuating and varied between “weak and medium”, and revealed the state of changing the priorities of Jordanians with the lack of liquidity and the difficult economic conditions that Jordanian families suffer from.

Despite the relative improvement in the movement in the clothing market, traders confirmed to “compass“It is still below what is hoped for, despite the relative improvement in movement during the last ten days of the holy month.

Confectionery shops and restaurants witnessed a weak turnout, while the owners of roasters confirmed that the demand for buying “Eid sweets,” clothes, chocolate, and others is still weak, hoping that the movement will improve before the Eid, and that Jordanians will start shopping to meet the needs of the holiday.

Payroll will revive market hopes

The payment of the salaries of the beneficiaries of Social Security and National Aid, and what was confirmed by “government sources” regarding the possibility of paying the salaries today or tomorrow would reflect positively on the movement of the markets and revive the hopes of merchants to compensate for the losses they suffered.

For her part, the Minister of Social Development, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the National Aid Fund, Wafa Bani Mustafa, announced that the fund will transfer the salaries of the beneficiaries of its programs before Eid Al-Fitr.

Also read: “Delaying installments” between “false burdens” paid by the citizen and the commercial sector’s dreams of moving the market

Today, Tuesday, Bani Mustafa said that, in implementation of government directives, the financial allocations for the month of April will be transferred to the beneficiaries of the fund before Eid Al-Fitr, noting that the process of delivering aid for the month of April took place ahead of schedule to meet the needs of the beneficiaries and their additional expenses during Eid Al-Fitr.

In turn, the head of the Syndicate of Restaurant and Sweets Owners, Omar Al-Awwad, revealed, on Tuesday, a weak commercial movement in the markets compared to previous years.

Al-Awwad told Al-Mamlaka that the demand for markets and restaurants decreased by about 50% in Ramadan this year, compared to Ramadan last year.

Also read: Blood money for “Al-Bawsala”: Demand for the clothing market is at its lowest levels, and we hope that the movement will improve

He added that the decline in market movement comes for several reasons, including high prices, weak liquidity and the purchasing power of the citizen.

Al-Awwad indicated that there was an “unjustified” rise in commodity prices.

As for the head of the Clothing Merchants Syndicate, Sultan Allan, he said in a tweet to him on his Facebook page: “When an entire people is waiting for a decision to postpone loans for a single month, and their hopes and aspirations relate to a patchwork solution… I know that we are not fine, when we use a usurious method to treat temporary anxiety and mourn that it was not achieved… I know we are not well.”

The demand for clothes is at its lowest levels

He added, “When there are no real solutions such as reducing taxes, including the sales tax, raising wages, and addressing the imbalance in rents and energy bills… I know that we are not okay.”

And the economist and former captain of the clothing merchants, Mounir Dayyah, confirmed in his statements to “compass“The turnout and demand for clothes is still at its lowest level, and it differs from all previous Ramadan seasons.

In his statements, Diyah said, “We have not yet witnessed a real movement in the markets, and the demand and purchase is at its weakest rate, and it is one of the weakest seasons that passed on the commercial sector between the previous seasons.”

He added: It is quite clear that the difficult economic conditions that the citizen went through during the past years and the beginning of the current year 2023, from the high cost of living, the scarcity of liquidity, the increase in loans and the financial burdens imposed on him, have become imposing themselves on the citizen’s life.

Reviving seasonal economies

The economist Hossam Ayesh confirmed to “compassThat the government should devote a new concept by facilitating matters in order to improve the consumption of citizens and consumers, and this requires that there be at least in the different seasons, including the Ramadan season, the winter season, Eid, and others.

Ayesh pointed out that we have to “take care of the economies of these seasons in a way that leads to improving people’s ability to spend, and for the government to take into account that these seasons have their own requirements and economic and social conditions that require a change in policies during these seasons.”

Also read: Expert to “Al-Bawsala”: Liquidity revives markets, and the government calls for improving the “seasonal economy”