The German Retail Association (HDE) has welcomed the fact that the federal and state governments have waived a renewed lockdown in the retail sector in their new package of measures to combat the Corona crisis. In view of the continuation of the 2G regulation in large parts of the retail sector, retailers now quickly need further government economic aid, said HDE managing director Stefan Genth on Wednesday in Berlin. “As the state measures continue, an adjustment of the economic aid is long overdue.” Otherwise, an exacerbation of the existential need in retail is to be feared in the next few weeks.
According to a recent HDE trend survey, half of the non-food retailers see their existence in jeopardy with ongoing 2G requirements for shops. “2G has a negative impact on customer footfall and sales, especially in the city centers. This development can be clearly observed in the current Christmas business,” said Genth.
In such a form, the aid provided by the federal government missed the realities of traders’ lives. “The entry barriers are set too high, the application processes too complex and the processing time too long,” complained Genth. There is an urgent need for action here.
In addition, the existing maximum limit for aid payments should not be kept unchanged. “The trade has had several lockdowns. In the course of the closings, many traders have already reached the maximum limit,” said Genth. He asked for the maximum limit to be doubled. (dpa)