National Confederation of Greek Commerce

In the wake of a spate of vandalism and crime in central Athens, representatives of the business community and the capital's mayor on Thursday called on the government to take action. 

"The state must eventually do its job," said Constantinos Michalos, president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's visit to the United States could benefit Greece's international image as an investment destination, Vassilis Korkidis, the president of the National Confederation of Greek Commerce (ESEE) has said.

Small and medium-sized retailers submitted an appeal on Monday to the Council of State against the ministerial decision regarding the opening of stores on Sundays.

More than 85 percent of shops across Greece remained closed on Sunday, said the National Confederation of Greek Commerce (ESEE) which opposes reforms demanded by the country's international creditors.

Turnover in December is not expected to reach the target of 4 billion euros, the National Confederation of Greek Commerce (ESEE) estimated on Monday, blaming lackluster consumer demand on the increasing pressure felt by taxpayers.

The cost of a traditional holiday meal will be 5.3 percent higher this year for Greeks who celebrate Orthodox Easter on Sunday, the National Confederation of Greek Commerce (ESEE) reported on Tuesday.

By Dimitra Manifava

Employment in commerce is continuing to drop, according to data presented on Monday by Vassilis Korkidis, the head of the renamed Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE), previously known as the National Confederation of Greek Commerce.

Jobs in the sector declined from 639,000 in Q2 last year to 624,500 in July-September 2014.

The Greek market is in serious need of some economic respite, otherwise many small to medium-sized enterprises will be run into the ground, National Confederation of Greek Commerce (ESEE) officials warned during a meeting with Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis in Athens on Monday.

By Dimitra Manifava

Three weeks into the summer sales, traders say that purchases are not satisfactory. Shopping levels appear to be lower than during the same period last year, or on the same level at best, even at popular holiday destinations, with Crete suffering the biggest losses.

Only 5 percent of stores have seen an increase in business during the first weeks of the summer sales compared to the same period last year, according to a survey conducted by the National Confederation of Greek Commerce (ESEE).