MADRID, 22 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The distribution of hardware and DIY maintains the good path that began after the pandemic in terms of sales and closed the year 2022 with a growth of 10.6% in its turnover.

This is reflected in the data from the Aecoc sectoral barometer, which indicates that large specialized stores registered an increase of 11.5% in their turnover, while traditional establishments grew by 5.9%.

The barometer also shows the good evolution since the third quarter of 2020, when the closure of shops decreed at the beginning of the pandemic ended. Since then, the sector has registered close to double-digit growth quarter after quarter.

Despite the good billing figures, the context of growing costs and containment of consumption raises doubts about the evolution of the sector.

"The distribution of hardware and DIY has shown its resilience in the face of difficult situations, such as the health crisis or the current inflationary scenario. Now, the fall in household savings together with the variability of production costs and the decrease in the granting of mortgages, with the negative effect it has on the reforms, are sources of uncertainty about the immediate future of the sector", explained the president of the Aecoc Hardware and DIY Committee, Jaime Mendoza.

In its analysis of the results, the AECOC committee considers the maintenance of purchase volumes as one of the main challenges in the sector.

Despite the context of uncertainty, Mendoza appreciates the position achieved by hardware and DIY in recent years.

"Since the start of the pandemic, we have been by the side of the consumer in the process of improving their homes to work, creating their leisure spaces and, in general, spending more time at home. During this time we have shown that we are an essential sector" , has indicated.