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'Don't watch the noise in the market, watch the sale'. Well, that is how the old saying goes, and vendors in downtown Kingston said it is a good piece of advice, especially at this time of year. They say the roads are packed and the traffic is thick, but they are not making any money. This comes after the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) projected that consumers will be spending an estimated $152.4 billion during the month of December.

Kevin 'African' James, a vendor on Beckford Street in downtown Kingston, says he is not seeing the flow of cash. He told THE WEEKEND STAR that last Christmas was better in terms of sales.

"Right yah now, the Christmas nuh really so strong but me can see up to $70,000 a day. Back in the days, all dem time yah, me woulda sell $200,000 already," he said.

"Anything weh we get we affi tek still. The sale a cut now because 'Mr Chin' dem look pon the pants dem, tek a picture, den go make the same pants dem ... den dem come wid the same pants dem and come sell dem cheaper," he added.

Likewise, Chantal Williamson says the cash flow tide is underwhelming because consumers have found alternate means to shop.

"Nothing nuh really a gwan da year yah. Me out yah every year and a di slowest year dis because the people dem start order dem things pon Amazon and dem have dem people dem from foreign weh a gi dem the things dem," she said.

More sellers and buyers

She added that there are more sellers than buyers.

"Yuh might come out pon a Thursday and yuh see whole heap a car... di people dem a go wholesale go buy dem goods cause most people a do business now. Nuh whole heap a buyer nuh deh yah, a bare seller," she said.

Austin Watson says people aren't buying anything. "Yuh see from morning when me deh yah, me not even sell $500. Is like the people dem just a walk through and a ask a how much fi di tings dem. Dem a seh di tings dem look good but dem nah buy dem. Mi nuh know if Saturday or Sunday a go better. Last year, yuh couldn't walk yah suh... yuh affi a rub pon people. Last year better man," he said.

Meanwhile, Macky, who vends on West Street, said he earned more in October and November.

"The people dem a head to the wholesale... Maybe because of the price difference. People a go where they think they can get more things for cheaper. And most a dem a buy inna bulk, so dem ago run to the Chiney dem. People see yuh out here and think seh yah mek a bag a money, but a nuh so it go. Fi now, me nuh see it. We affi hope fi di best," he said.