retail trade
Online trade: Consequences of war end corona boom
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the reluctance of users to shop online has also been noticeable. Photo: Mohssen Assanimoghaddam/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Online retailers are considered to be the big beneficiaries of the corona pandemic. But with Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the economic situation has changed noticeably.
In online trading, too, customers are paying more attention to their money due to rising prices and an uncertain economic situation.
Sales increased sharply until the Russian invasion of Ukraine, since then they have been declining, according to data from the Federal Association of E-Commerce and Mail Order Germany. From the beginning of April to mid-May there was a drop of 6.7 percent compared to the same period last year. DIY and handicraft supplies, flowers, car and motorcycle accessories, computers and other electronic items were much less in demand.
“We are currently seeing two effects: a normalization of sales compared to the high from the previous year and a war penalty, including unsettled consumers,” said association spokesman Frank Düssler on Thursday. However, the long-term growth trend in the industry remains intact. However, the earlier forecast of an increase of 12 percent can no longer be maintained.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, sales in the entire retail trade in April, adjusted for seasonal and price effects (real), fell by 5.4 percent compared to March. Nominally, there was a minus of 4.7 percent.