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Berlin (dpa) - Advances in vaccination and falling corona infection numbers are making the craft businesses in Germany look a little more positive into the future.
As can be seen from the economic report of the industry association ZDH, they expect business to pick up again significantly in the second half of the year.
At the same time, however, the corona restrictions continued to have an effect, emphasized Secretary General Holger Schwannecke.
"The resulting sales losses will hardly be able to be compensated for in many trades, even if the affected companies can fully operate again in the further course of the year."
The industry association expects total sales growth of one percent for the current year.
But even this low growth compared to pre-pandemic years can only be achieved if vaccination is accelerated further and sustainable, longer-lasting opening steps are possible.
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Above all, suppliers to the hotel and catering industry, i.e. laundries and building cleaners, but also bakers, confectioners, butchers and beer brewers often have liquidity problems, said Schwannecke.
The same applies to stand builders and event technicians.
Existing aid programs would therefore have to be extended.
The price explosion and delivery bottlenecks for many building materials are also problematic for the craft, said Schwannecke.
So far, mainly craft businesses in construction and expansion have stabilized the economy for the industry - that will be difficult if the situation does not ease.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210514-99-596357 / 2