Eskişehir retail activity faces challenges amid declining purchasing power

Discussions regarding the economic state of retail and shopping malls in Eskişehir have emerged following observations of declining commercial activity. Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ reported a 50 percent drop in business at shopping malls compared to the previous year, noting that while malls remain crowded, the majority of visitors are using them as social spaces rather than for shopping due to diminished purchasing power. He estimated that only about 150 out of every 1,000 visitors engage in actual transactions.

Former AK Party council member Murat Özcan addressed the debate surrounding commercial projects in the city. He argued that many recent developments are classified as commercial or mixed-use due to zoning regulations rather than being intended solely as shopping malls. Özcan suggested that the city is increasingly being viewed as a consumption hub rather than a production center, noting that even small storefronts are being occupied by national chains rather than local merchants.