Number of Athens stores shutting down steady

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.