Two weeks before the reopening, the Lille trade is in uncertainty

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Shops are due to reopen on May 19 in Lille – M.Libert / 20 Minutes

  • After a third confinement, shops are to reopen on May 19 in France.
  • In Hauts-de-France, uncertainty predominates because health indicators remain high.
  • In Lille, we are also worried about the social breakdown to come in several sectors.

Scalded cat fears cold water. After the announcement of the reopening of shops for May 19, Romuald Catoire did not necessarily jump for joy. After three confinements and as many disillusions, the president of the Lille trade federation has learned not to get carried away.

“We are in a wait-and-see state of mind. I am one of those who thinks that reopening too early is giving yourself the opportunity to close a little later. We become paranoid and very negative, but I am still worried. If we are told May 19 as the reopening date, there are still small asterisks with dots pending. It will be based on health indicators. And today, it is not very good for the North, therefore mistrust. There are still a lot of unknowns, ”says the trader.

Uncertainty prevails

If the figures are down, hospital pressure in intensive care services is still strong in Hauts-de-France. And could jeopardize the reopening announced in two weeks. And if all goes as planned, many traders are wondering in what context their activity will restart.

“The aid is up to par in many sectors. Some traders can even do quite a bit. We have a band-aid, but how are we going to revive economic activity? More than aid, we must support the recovery otherwise we will not get out, ”warns Romuald Catoire.

Lille more spared than the medium-sized cities?

The president of the Lille trade federation is also not very optimistic for the future. “The social breakdown will happen. Not immediately because in the coming months, people will rush into the shops but in the long term, we risk seeing the painful thing when we have to repay the PGE (loan guaranteed by the State). It is a credit on turnover that we did not do. So it will put even more strain on the cash flow of companies ”.

Worried about many businesses with very high rents, the Lille merchant does not see black everywhere either. A large metropolis, the capital of Flanders could overcome the crisis more quickly than medium-sized cities where pauperization has started for several years in the city centers. “In Lille, the commercial vacancy is quite low. There will be breakage but less than elsewhere because it is a big city ”, assures Romuald Catoire. Finally a little note of optimism in an immense ocean of uncertainties.

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