A UNLP survey reveals that 57% of La Plata merchants claim that sales have fallen

A survey conducted by the School of Economics of the National University of La Plata (UNLP) revealed that 57% of the businesses in The Silver recorded declines in sales during the first 3 months of the year due to the strong economic recession that the country is experiencing.

The work was carried out by Sectoral and Territorial Development Laboratory from the La Plata study house next to the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services from the city. The survey provided revealing data on how activity is behaving in businesses in the capital of Buenos Aires since 2024 began.

Initially the survey determined that Almost six out of every ten La Plata stores experienced a drop in sales, while 25% of merchants maintained that sales remained almost unchanged and only in 17% of cases, especially linked to computing and personal services, experienced uan rise of activity compared to the same period in 2023.

The study also revealed that employment, meanwhile, fell by 6.5% when compared to the same quarter of 2023.

The most and least affected items

The most affected item was clothing sales, which fell 22.6% in the quarter, also registering the worst performance compared to last year. Next were construction materials, which fell by 19.5%, and in third place were attendance at cinemas, which fell by 17.2%. Along the same lines were the sales of books, newspapers and music, with 15.8%; accommodation in hotels, with 12.6%; food, with 8.9%; and restaurants with 4.7%.

The only sectors that increased their sales are IT and Personal Services, registering increases between January and March of 10.4% and 6.3%, respectively.

Shops

La Plata businesses are suffering from the recession

The work also indicated that the use of alternative sales means also grew among merchants: 29% of the quarter’s sales were made through these new channels (web, telephone and social networks). The migration towards digital commerce deepened in all areas, as well as alternative payment methods such as MODE, DNI account and Payment Marketgiven the promotions and discounts offered for its use.

The concerns of La Plata merchants

The work revealed that, in a context in which inflation does not subside, the increase in prices in the economy is at the top of the economic problems suffered by La Plata merchants (74%), while they are also alert for increases of public service rates and tax pressure with 44% and 43%, respectively. Lack of demand, with 38%, appears in fourth place.

Regarding public space, respondents say that security is the main problem with 68% of the responses, while the state of streets and sidewalks and the lack of parking spaces are second with 29%.

The complete UNLP report