Imphal, November 09: Strange are the behaviors of the consumers and by extension the market forces operating in the State.

With Government employees not paid for two months it is not uncommon to find a good number of shops closing down for the day without a single sale transaction.

On the other end of the spectrum there is the greeting card shops which are doing brisk business never mind the tight financial situation.

A survey conducted by these reporters in the major commercial centres revealed that while shops selling greeting cards can earn anything between Rs 2000 to Rs 4000 as sale proceeds on a single day, most of the other shops especially the cloth shops have to close down without a single sale for the day.

Notwithstanding Ningol Chakkouba, which is knocking at the doors of the Manipuris the scene is pathetic for many of the shop keepers.

Manager of PK Fashion at Paona bazar told The Sangai Express that sale proceeds have dropped by about 80 percent as compared to last year.

Even heavy discount sales appear to have failed to woo the consumers.

Manager of Pal Garments at Paona bazar said despite discount offers, the customers are not stepping out to purchase clothes.

The situation is far worse than it was last year, he said.

Sale of other durable consumers goods are also in no better conditions.

A salesman of Capital Watch said the question now is not about the day's sale but whether any sale is made in a day or not! Samaridhi Store which specializes in women clothing including salwars has never seen bleaker days if its manager is to be believed.

Sales have not only dropped but have practically stopped, added the managers.

There are also no takers for footwear.

Shop keepers at Gambhir Singh Arcade said they have to close down shop without a single sale on a number of days.

With customers staying away, shop keepers and salesmen have to find out ways to while away their time.

This is a far cry from last year when the shopping complex teemed with Chakkouba shoppers.

However the scene is not all that gloomy in shops selling greeting cards even though sales have appreciably dropped from last year.

A shop selling greeting cards at the Gambhir Arcade still manages a sale of about Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 a day.

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