Leading retailers in Guinea Bissau say volume of sales in the country decreased significantly during the last months of 2015 with the trend continuing this year.

Low sales were particularly visible during Christmas as retailers were expecting a much greater influx of consumers to stores. According to a representative of Darling Supermarkets, which has 3 outlets in the country, “consumers’ available savings this year did not allow for any advance shopping in the months preceding Christmas nor during Christmas time”.

All retailers in the country are clear in attributing he current situation to the political crisis the country is living ever since the Pereira government was dismissed by the President José Mário Vaz. Touba, another retailer with one supermarket in Bissau, expects the situation to change as soon as public workers get paid by the government, which is expected to happen in March.