No change in winter clothing prices — sector representative

AMMAN — Despite being imported in fewer quantities, this year's winter clothes will be sold at "stable and regular prices", according to a sector representative.

This year's winter clothes will “not be cheaper than last year's”, according to a statement by the representative of the clothes and footwear sector at the Amman Chamber of Commerce Asaad Qawasmi.

Expecting that most sellers and shop owners will display their winter goods by the end of this month, Qawasmi mentioned that the quantity of imports has gone down by 25 per cent, from JD 75 million to JD 50 million.

“Although the sector is going through a rough time at the moment, sellers cannot reduce prices because they will have to endure more losses. The best they can do is to reduce their imports, just like they have done,” said Muneer Deyeh, president of the Textile and Readymade Clothes Syndicate.

Hitting several lows this year and last year, including an 80 per cent decline in sales in some months and a 60 per cent total decline last year, the sector is “struggling to pull itself out of its stagnant state”, according to Deyeh.

The syndicate's president added that shop owners have expressed their concern that this winter "might not generate enough profit to keep their shops going, which is why they cannot decrease prices".

Qawasmi made a similar remark in his statement, saying that the new school year "slightly raised sales, although not as expected" and that shop owners are "worried about the non-stop deterioration of their sales".