In the last two years, the number of jobs generated by companies in this sector has fallen 7%, because of the slowdown in the country's economic activity.
According to information from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), between the second quarter of 2017 and the same period of 2019, the number of jobs in the commercial sector was reduced by 28,621, from 386,597 to 357,976.
In the retail business, large distributors boost the sales of their own brand products through strategies aimed at consumers who prioritize the price factor over other elements when buying.
Globally, the tendency to buy private label products is becoming more and more evident in markets, as companies engaged in the retail trade of other products, such as supermarket chains, are capitalizing on their experience by placing their own products and competing with their suppliers.
Meeting the demands of consumers who increasingly seek responsibility in the production chain and balancing sales between physical and digital formats are part of the challenges faced by businesses in Panama.
The CEO and president of Grupo Rey, Hernán Muntaner, points out that globally the sales of modern channels such as hypermarkets and supermarkets are decreasing, giving way to other forms such as online channels and discount stores.
In Costa Rica, the retail sector is going through one of its worst moments in recent years, since several jobs have been lost and local unemployment is increasing.
Figures from the Economic and Social Observatory of the National University (UNA) show that the commercial sector has lost 15,446 jobs in recent years as a result of the slowdown in consumption in the country.
In the last year, the number of vacant commercial premises has increased in Costa Rica, behavior that is partly due to the economic situation of the country and changes in consumer preferences.
Figures from Colliers International specify that in the last two years the rate of availability of commercial premises in the country has registered an upward behavior, since in the first quarter of 2017 a rate of less than 4% was reported, and from January to March 2019 that proportion went up to 8%.
Walmart plans to invest $48 million in Guatemala during 2019, of which $25 million will be used to open new stores and remodel existing ones.
According to information provided by representatives of Walmart, the investment projected for this year in the country will double that invested in 2018, since last year the amount disbursed totaled $24 million.
Businessmen from the commercial sector in Costa Rica expect for the Christmas season a sales behavior like that seen during the Black Friday Weekend.
According to the Chamber of Commerce, the moderate growth of the commercial sector is the result of the uncertainty and economic slowdown that the country is going through, in addition to the increases in interest rates and the exchange rate.
Arguing that there are risks that the economic agent will affect market prices, in Costa Rica the Commission for the Promotion of Competition denied Walmart the request to purchase the supermarket group Gessa.
Representatives of the Commission for the Promotion of Competition (Coprocom) informed that the decision was taken unanimously on December 4th and the parties were notified the following day.
The fall in the automobile and construction materials sales was determinant in the increase of only 1.6%, which is forecast to close the year by companies in the commercial sector in Costa Rica.
Representatives of the Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce (CCCR) reported that expected growth for this year will be only 1.6%, significantly below the 3% average annual increases that have been reported in previous years.
During the first five weeks of a strike called by public unions in Costa Rica, 76% of businesses reported economic losses and 18% had to lay off staff.
The Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce carried out a study with the objective of measuring the losses of companies in the sector, derived from the strike carried out by the country's public unions, which began last September 6th.
In Costa Rica about 30% of supermarkets are in San Jose, Guatemala, the metropolitan area concentrates 45% of establishments, while in Panama, 32% are in West Panama.
An analysis of the Trade Intelligence area of CentralAmericaData provides interesting results on where they are located, who they are, if they operate independently or if they belong to a chain or business group.
In Costa Rica, Walmart has agreed to buy the supermarket chains Perimercados, Súper Compro and the Saretto store, until now owned by Grupo Empresarial de Supermercados.
Walmart Mexico and Central America reported that the transaction was presented on July 19 to the Commission for the Promotion of Competition (Coprocom), which must evaluate and authorize it.
In the past 12 months, 165 environmental impact studies, valued at $350 million, were submitted for the development of shopping centers, supermarkets, department stores and other types of commercial buildings in the region.
Data from the interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData:
Plans are being made to build a 15 thousand square meter supermarket under the Walmart brand in Ciudad Quesada, Alajuela.
Data from CentralAmericaData's Interactive System "Central American Construction Projects" compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit shows that Corporación Supermercados Unidos S.A.