THE trade sector experienced a tough start to the new year, and much of the performance of the sector still largely reflects a Covid-19 narrative, the latest retail trade survey by the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) shows.
The survey took place from 18 January to 1 March 2021, with most of the responses received during the last two weeks of February.
It shows that in the first quarter of 2021, retailer confidence declined by 13 index points to 37.
This was to be expected, considering that much of the momentum gained in the final quarter of last year was from pent-up demand for alcohol, anticipated festive season sales, and the vital social grant top ups, which all petered out by the first quarter, the BER said.
Furthermore, the sector also benefitted from a significant uptick in the durable goods category in the fourth quarter, as many people still worked from
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