Thanks to the measures taken in this year’s budget, consumer confidence has increased, and these days consumers are feeling more comfortable about their spending, said parliamentary secretary Edwin Vassallo.

He said: “ I have been visiting a number of commercial centres and I am satisfied that consumer spending during the Christmas shopping period is being spread over different products and also over different localities. The announcement of a reduction in the surcharge is instilling greater optimism, both among consumers and the business community.”

Mr Vassallo was speaking at the end of a visit to a number of shops in the Plaza Shopping Centre in Sliema.

“We are also following the investments being made and the opening of new businesses in different commercial centres and we are seeing an increase in investment in commercial activity in Malta. I hear comments from different shop owners and they are expecting a positive outcome next year.”

During the visit, Mr Vassallo spoke to a number of shop owners and heard their comments about commercial activity in the area. Mr Vassallo wished every success to the shop owners in the complex, which is now in its 13th year of business. He also expressed the hope that the whole area would benefit from a high level of shopping over the Christmas period.

Mr Vassallo was accompanied on his visit by Plaza complex chief executive officer Lionel Lapira and Sliema mayor Marina Arrigo.

Mr Vassallo concluded his visit by saying that “the positive feeling that is being expressed by local shop owners is a reflection of the positive feeling that is being felt all over Europe. This can also be seen in statistics that were issued by the Malta Central Bank and the Eurochambers.”