BERLIN (Reuters). BERLIN (Reuters) – The stricter German restrictions to stop COVID-19 spreading are preventing people from buying in busy Christmas shopping periods, according to the HDE (Hindu Retailers Association) on Sunday.

Based on a survey that included 1,600 companies, the HDE reported that brick-and mortar non-food retail sales were down by an average 26% during the week ending February 13, 2019, compared to 2019.

The pre-crisis sales slumped by 35% for clothing retailers.

Visitors to city center shopping areas are down by 41% in comparison with 2019. Last year was a time when restaurants and bars were in partial lockdown. There were also limits to the amount of people who could meet at stores.

German officials on Thursday agreed that unvaccinated individuals would not be allowed to access all other businesses, except those essential to their lives, like grocery stores, pharmacies, or bakeries.

HDE Chief Executive Stefan Genth stated that the introduction of more stringent coronavirus protection in stores is going to cause a major disruption in Christmas sales.

HDE calls for the government’s financial assistance to retail businesses.

Germany had 42,055 infections and 94 deaths on Sunday, making the death toll total to 103 040.

Genth explained that “Retailers had placed all their hopes and dreams on the Christmas market.” “But retailers are now moving closer to the edge with every passing day. A disastrous outlook.”

HDE estimates that December’s sales loss in non-food retail could be as high at 5.5 billion Euros ($6.22 Billion). The survey found that 77% of respondents have low expectations for the coming weeks.

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