Six out of ten craftsmen in Thessaloniki are worried as they estimate that the repayment of the repayable advance will affect the consistency of their businesses in terms of their other obligations, while two out of ten answer that there will be no impact.
At the same time, the accuracy and the frantic rally in energy prices, which have affected consumer behavior, cause concern, with the result that six out of ten craftsmen believe that their business will return to normal levels from 2024 onwards, three out of ten mid-2023. Only one in ten appear more optimistic as they believe that at the end of this year there will be a climate change.
Five out of ten craftsmen answer that they have included in the final cost of selling their products the increases in the prices of energy and raw materials, while four out of ten answer negatively.
These data come from the second Economic Barometer for the period May – June of the Thessaloniki Chamber of Crafts, which is conducted with an electronic questionnaire to its members. The research, in which 315 companies – members of BETH participated, includes current questions but also questions regarding the course of craft enterprises.
Regarding the effects of the war in Ukraine, 64.6% of companies answered that they caused shortages of raw materials, 16.3% that they reduced demand, 12.6% that they reduced their exports and 6.5% that increased energy costs.
When asked “what measures do you estimate would contribute to the better course of small and medium business” 31.1% said that the lower tax for individuals and companies would contribute in this direction by rewarding tax consistency, 26.5% reduction VAT on basic necessities from 13% to 6%, 14.2% increase in energy subsidy, 13% reduction in Excise Duty on fuel, 5.7% easier access to financing through banks , 5.2% the time shift of companies’ liabilities and 4.3% the highest liquidity through financial instruments.
Negative, but… improved economic situation
Improved compared to the previous two months (March – April) but consistently negative, the economic situation of BETH remains. Specifically, the index for the period May – June is at -8.4% compared to -13.5% in the two months March – April.
Regarding the situation of their business, five out of ten judge it as satisfactory, three out of ten think it is bad, while two out of ten answer that it is good.
For the next six months, five out of ten say they think their business situation will remain the same, three out of ten say it will be worse, and two out of ten better.
54.2% answer that they will keep the staff they employ for the next two months, 32.9% that they do not employ staff in their company, 5.2% that they will lay off staff, while 7.7% that they will hire staff .
The turnover of their companies in the two months May-June, during which the survey ran, was reduced for 44.3% of the participants in the survey, compared to the previous two months, while the percentage of 43.7% answered that its turnover remained the same. For 12% of the participants their turnover increased.
Source: Capital
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