By Dimitra Manifava

This year’s summer sales have ended with a drop in turnover of about 1 billion euros compared to last year, thereby failing to give the retail market the boost it desperately needed, while retailers are now asking for the sales period to be brought forward so as to start in early July.

Data collected by the Commerce and Services Institute of the National Confederation of Greek Commerce (ESEE) from 113 trade associations across the country indicate that turnover declined by 29 percent in Greece from the 2011 summer sales: This year it amounted to 4 billion euros, against 5 billion in 2011 and 6.5 billion in 2010.

The Athens Traders’ Association issued a statement on Friday reiterating its earlier proposal for the summer sales to begin on July 1 instead of mid-July, and to last for five rather than six weeks. This way the sales would end on around August 5 each year and avoid the main holiday season for Greeks which culminates in mid-August.

The association stated that this summer the sales volume in the capital dropped by 50 percent compared to last year.