Number of Athens stores shutting down steady in H1

The rate of retail stores shutting down in the Athens city center leveled off in the first half of the year, according to a leading business group.

An average of 28% of stores in the area have shut down with this percentage going as high as 45% in Harilaou Trikoupi street, said the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) . On the busy streets of Stadiou and Panepistimiou it stands at around 34%.

"Based on our assessment of businesses that have shut down, there is a stabilising trend after the catastrophic business activity of 2012," it said in a statement.

Τhe mix of tenants is also changing slightly. Τhe number of food stores has dropped slightly with retailers such as clothes and footwear stores on the up, it added.