Black Friday Is a Bright Spot for German Retailers
German retailers’ supply problems have eased slightly, finds an ifo Institute survey. In November, 71.1 percent of businesses were struggling with supply bottlenecks, down from 74.9 percent in October. Moreover, there was a notable decrease in pessimism among retailers regarding the coming months. “Black Friday offers a glimmer of hope in difficult times for many retailers,” says Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of Surveys at ifo.
“Many customers are looking for bargains due to high inflation,” Wohlrabe adds. “But there’s a danger that this will negatively affect business in December as customers are already buying their Christmas gifts.”
Food and electronics retailers are currently feeling the most impact from supply bottlenecks, with around 90 percent of businesses in each segment reporting supply problems. For DIY stores, the situation has eased somewhat. Currently, 63.3 percent of businesses are still reporting supply bottlenecks, down from 85.7 percent in October. Among toy retailers, some 60 percent of businesses are unable to offer their full range.
