Sales slump: Hormuz or a lack of spending power?

Sales in free fall: the tug-of-war between geopolitics and empty wallets

A small business owner puts it bluntly: "I'm starting to notice a more than noticeable drop in sales". Next to him, another shopkeeper declares: "It's not because of the Hormuz war, it's because people DON'T have a damn cent in their pocket". The debate over the health of small businesses in Spain has peine with figures that, while not yet official, can already be felt at the counter.

The Hormuz factor: excuse or reality?

Tension in the Strait of Hormuz – a key route for crude oil traffic – has been singled out as the trigger of the slowdown. However, several accounts point to a deeper problem: the loss of purchasing power among families. While some blame the international context, others remind us that domestic demand was already weak long before oil tankers started changing course.

A self-employed person's daily life: suppliers closing and customers staying home

The side effects are multiplying. A supplier with 25 years in business has shut its doors. The arrival of artificial intelligence in sales advice is confusing customers: "the AI told me this is better", some reply. Even the weather is playing against them: with heatwave warnings in place, people stop going out to shop.

From metals to AI: the forward escape

Those who can, pivot. A business linked to precious metals admits it quit because customers were "broke and stingy" and has thrown itself into artificial intelligence and trading. A sign that diversification is no longer an option but a matter of survival. Late payments, meanwhile, keep growing, and discouragement is spreading.

The puzzling figure: while the major indices hold up, the street tells a different story. The gap between macro and micro has never been wider.