AMMAN — Since the beginning of the aggression
on Gaza, the purchasing power has declined, with sadness and despair prevailing
among the people of Gaza. Jordanian citizens now spend their time at home
closely following the news.
اضافة اعلان
With the start of the blessed month of
Ramadan, there was a noticeable difference in the celebrations and decorations
compared to 2023. Since the first week of Ramadan, traders have complained
about the weak purchasing activity among citizens, limited to buying essential
food and drinks.
After 10 days of the holy month, traders
noticed a decline in activity and interest in buying clothes as Eid al-Fitr
approached. The owner of one of the commercial stores, Raneem Marwan, confirmed
in the second week of Ramadan that citizens usually start preparing for Eid
al-Fitr to avoid price hikes, but this year, due to difficult circumstances and
sad feelings because of what is happening in Gaza, they are missing this habit.
Marwan added that she did not import large
quantities of goods this year to avoid congestion, anticipating weak demand.
Meanwhile, Laith Al-Ghoul, responsible for
social media at a commercial store in Amman, noted a significant decline in
demand this year, attributing it mainly to the repercussions of the war on Gaza
and the psychological state of the Jordanian citizens.
Commercial stores are offering discounts of up
to 50 percent due to the end of the season and the beginning of the spring
season, yet the demand for purchases remains weak this year.
Tamer Al-Rihali, a sales employee at a
commercial store in Al-Salt governorate, confirmed that the demand for
purchasing clothes is now limited to essential daily wear, especially for
children.
On the other hand, trader Majid Ayoubi
emphasized that it is too early to judge commercial activity in Ramadan, noting
that demand usually increases in the last ten days of the month. He also
pointed out that limited quantities of goods were imported to avoid congestion.
Regarding commodity prices, Alaan pointed out
a decline in purchasing power, making it difficult to raise prices, and perhaps
prompting discounts to encourage citizens to buy. Alaan also mentioned concerns
about shipping problems via the Red Sea, but the timely arrival of goods was
reassuring.
He affirmed that commercial activity would
greatly improve in the coming weeks, but noted that this year's demand is weak
due to the difficult situation in Gaza.
In conclusion, Alaan emphasized that Ramadan
witnesses exceptions in commercial activity, and final statistics will be
announced at the end of the month. He also highlighted a dramatic increase in
shipping prices over the past two months, adding additional pressure on
traders.
Overall, it appears that economic challenges
and psychological strain due to the war on Gaza have affected trade and the
economy in Jordan during Ramadan, making matters more complicated and
challenging for both citizens and traders.
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