Forty-six per cent of retailers in Malta favour the prospect of opening their retail outlets on Sunday, in contrast to 45 per cent who are opposed to the idea. This emerges from the third retail market barometer conducted by PwC in the second and third week of January in which 322 local businesses participated.

Retailers who were interviewed comprise retail operators in the food and beverage, clothing, ICT, and the cultural and recreational businesses located in Valletta, Sliema, St Julian’s, Ħamrun, Paola and Gozo. Catering establishments and bars were not included.

Only 18 per cent of the retailers reported an increase in business during the last Christmas period, when compared to the 2012 festive season. Thirty-nine per cent registered a fall in business while 36 per cent report comparable business activity with the 2012.

In Valletta, 23 per cent of the retailers interviewed performed better than 2013 while in Sliema this ratio was slightly lower, at 21 per cent. The extent of retailers who reported a decline in business is generally consistent throughout all locations – with Paola heading this at 42 per cent.

With the exception of Valletta – where retailers’ primary concerns remain issues relating to parking and accessibility – competition is retailers’ primary concern. Forty-three per cent of local retailers consider the onset of online sales phenomenon as a threat. Only 19 per cent consider this an opportunity, while the reminder anticipate that online sales will not affect their bottom line.

The barometer indicates that that the cultural and recreational sector – which includes bookshops – is the sector most susceptible to the adverse effects brought in by online business competition.

Forty-one per cent of retailers interviewed hold a positive outlook for 2014 – an encouraging development over the equivalent 36 per cent reported in the third quarter barometer in 2013.

The barometer results were also analysed by the retail sector, which also indicate mixed feelings on the prospects of opening shop on Sundays.

Operators in ICT equipment top the retailers who are willing to open on a Sunday. ICT stores are also the most confident about the future – with 54 per cent of those interviewed reporting a positive outlook for the next six months.

Competition is the common top concern among all sectors, with the exception of the food and beverage retail industry, where utility bills are considered as the primary factor affecting business.