Experts in the online purchasing sector confirmed that the increase in Egypt’s inflation rates will impact the rate of consumer purchases through various online platforms.
They estimated that the decline in purchases could reach about 10 percent after the increase in the prices of many goods.
They explained that this decline is temporary and purchases will return to their usual levels.
They added that consumers in Egypt are getting used to the increase and dealing with it realistically, and thus the decline in purchases will only be temporary.
The head of an online sales platform, Hadeer Shalaby, said that inflation will impact online sales operations, explaining that the decline in purchases reaches about 10 percent at most.
She explained that inflation is also altering what is being bought with a clear decline in luxury good and a greater focus on basics.
Shalaby noted that the increase in the prices of some goods, especially imported, has had a positive impact as this increased demand for local products.
The General Manager of another e-commerce platform, Mohamed Sakina, said that the increase in prices usually has a clear impact on the increase in demand for the offers provided by various companies, with a focus on local production as well.
The summer season usually witnesses an increase in demand for basic products, led by drinks and juices, followed by fruits of all kinds as well as cosmetics, he said.
There are seasons that witness rising demand for specific products, he said, such as a clear increase in school and student supplies in preparation for the new school year.
Sakina said increase in the inflation rate may have an impact on total demand as a quick reaction to the increase in the inflation rate, but there are other positive effects represented by the increase in number of suppliersand thus more competition between merchants.
He added that demand for fast food and ready-made meals from restaurants remains stable.
Up to 80 percent of restaurant projects in Egypt are small and medium, he said, adding that the demand for their products to continue to increase even with rising prices.
