Things are tough, it's as simple as that'

AFTER weeks of fighting for sales as customers continue to tighten their belts amid the crippling cost-of-living crisis, Manchester Christmas Market traders say they are clinging on for survival and that this year could be their last.

- IMOGEN CLYDE-SMITH

It's been a tough year for the people that call the markets home, train strikes and poor weather have made it difficult for day-trippers to make their way into the city centre, and the spiralling costs have forced some vendors to up their prices.

The M.E.N. spoke to traders located across the Christmas Markets as their last week in the city loomed to see how sales have coped this festive season.

Mike Harry, who works at the Far & Son stall on Exchange Street which sells Diablesse Caribbean Rum, said: "This last weekend has been abysmal. It didn't help with the rail strikes and the storms. We expect everything to pick up from this week and it just hasn't.

"People just haven't got the disposable income they used to, and stall owners have had no choice but to put their prices up so high that it's £5 for one pancake and that's just unjustifiable when bills are through the roof and wages have stagnated. It's a tough year, definitely a tough year." Paul Collins, who runs a stall on Market Street, said his repeat customers are what is keeping his stand afloat.

He said: "As far as the market in general I don't think there's as many tourists or daytrippers as normal. The train strikes have been a massive thing for us.

The demonstrations we have here really affect us as well. If it wasn't for that repeat trade it probably wouldn't pay at all. We need the influx of out-of-towners." Paul said he may be forced to up his prices next year for the first time.

"People in general are not spending.

Things are tough, it's as simple as that.

There's no spare money knocking about.

I've not put prices up this year but I will have to next year. I've been the same price since I first came here pre-Covid.

I'm trying to be as cheap as I can," he said. Another trader on Market Street, who wished to remain anonymous said trade is 30 per cent down on last year.