The local Chamber of Commerce has announced that local businesses will celebrate the International Day of Commerce on December 1 by offering discounts to customers.
The campaign aims to encourage residents to shop locally and support local businesses which have been particularly badly hit by the financial crisis.
Some 1400 shops in the region of Murcia, most of them family and traditional outlets, have been forced to close over the past three years as custom dwindles.
It seems likely the January Sales will be brought forward to January 2, instead of January 7, to try and attract increased trade and give shops the opportunity of re-stocking.
According to the Central Business Directory (INE) at the beginning of 2008 there were 26.030 shops in the region but by January this year this number had shrunk to 24.665. This drop, of 5,2%, is higher than the national average of for the same period of 4,7%.
