Overview

• CAME reported SME retail sales down 0.3% year over year at constant prices, with real average spending plunging 21.1% despite promotions in about 87% of stores.
• Toy sales fell 5.2% nationally, as e‑commerce grew roughly 30% to 24% of the category but could not offset a 16% drop in physical-store sales, according to the toy industry chamber.
• Bank-backed card promotions lost weight, covering about 70% of transactions versus roughly 90% historically, which limited the lift from installment financing.
• Toy imports surged between January and July (+84% in value, +114% in volume), the number of importers rose from 314 to 565, and CAIJ warned that very low-priced entries raise safety and fair-competition concerns.
• Performance was uneven across categories, with footwear and leather goods up 5.3% and the highest average ticket, while bookstores fell 14.5% and electronics and apparel posted only marginal gains; domestic toy factories report about 50% idle capacity.