Businesses hope for more sales, price stability during Ramadan

AMMAN — Delaying overdue bank installments will help increase the public’s purchasing power during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, said Asad Qawasmi, a representative of the clothing, footwear and jewellery sector at the Jordan Chamber of Commerce (ACC), on Sunday.

 “The current economic conditions are harsh on everyone, and the purchasing power is still weak,” Qawasmi said.

He noted that merchants continue to feel the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic, but hope that the government will support decisions that stimulate the apparel sector.

Regarding the impact of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian crisis, he stated that the prices of clothes and footwear will remain stable, however, shipping costs are expected to rise.

“Sales during the holy month of Ramadan are usually low and currently our previous collections are piled because no one is buying,” Hala Abdullah, the owner of a clothing shop in Amman, told The Jordan Times over the phone.

She added that she hopes the situation will at least be stable during the holy month.

Meanwhile, Hussam Ramadan, the owner of a footwear shop in downtown Amman, told The Jordan Times that during Ramadan people often come to downtown Amman at night and his sales usually increase by at least 10 per cent each year.