Alana Gandra Reporter Agência Brasil

Rio de Janeiro – There is a lot of debate about whether or not there are losses of productivity due to World Cup soccer games. But the president of the Rio de Janeiro Shopkeeper Club (“Clube dos Diretores Lojistas”), Aldo Gonçalves, says there is no doubt that sales drop significantly every time Brazil plays. “Sales fall around 50% and that is a fact. Stores close early before the games and most do not open again. Only shopping centers open again after a game and even so business will be very weak,” says Gonçalves.
He estimates normal sales in the state of Rio de Janerio at around R$200 million per day. So, there is a loss of R$100 million. “Only small shops that sell cheap stuff for soccer fans are doing well. They sell hats, t-shirts, flags and horns (vuvuzuelas, etc),” reports Gonçalves.
Meanwhile, the director of the Rio Commercial Association, Daniel Plá, says that if Brazil makes it to the World Cup final total losses for Rio businesses will reach R$1 billion. And about a third of that will never be recuperated, says Plá, as those are losses in restaurants and bars, and so-called “compulsive buying” by shoppers that ceases to exist during soccer games.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English
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