Many households have to turn over every penny because of the massive increase in energy costs. Sometimes a visit to the hairdresser has to be canceled or the rolls are bought as frozen goods in the supermarket.
Erfurt (dpa/th) – In view of rising inflation and the energy crisis with high prices for gas, electricity and district heating, the first trade sectors in Thuringia are feeling a decline in customer demand. According to the responsible guilds, this applies to bakeries, hairdressers and beauty salons, for example. The general manager of the Erfurt Chamber of Crafts, Thomas Malcherek, said on request that there were also first signs of a drop in orders in the construction trade, which had previously bulging order books. “In general, the mood in the companies is very gloomy.”
Manuela Lohse, managing director of the state guild association for the bakery trade, speaks of an “incipient saving behavior” among customers. They reduced the scope of their purchases, buying fewer rolls and cakes. “In between, a piece of cake with every coffee, people do that less.” Others prefer supermarkets to buy baked goods. The guild association represents 116 member companies in Thuringia, which, according to the association, is about a third of the bakeries in the Free State.
Hairdressers also feel that many people are holding their money together more tightly in view of the general price development. “Since the topic of gas price increases has been discussed, customers have reacted,” said Sven Heubel, head of the hairdressers’ guild in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. “The intervals between hairdressing appointments are being extended, and certain services, such as dyeing, are sometimes being dispensed with.” The shops were still struggling with the consequences of the corona pandemic anyway.
“Even today, sales are 20 percent below the level before Corona,” says Heubel. The energy crisis will exacerbate these losses. The first hairdressing and cosmetics shops have already signaled that they can no longer hold out and will close at the end of the year.
According to Thomas Malcherek, the building trade is already seeing a decline in orders for new buildings as a result of higher building prices and higher building interest rates. “From the second or third quarter of 2023 at the latest, this should be massive.” However, the order situation is still good for the renovation and expansion of houses.
