Mérida, Yucatán — Christmas means candy in Mexico, but downtown sweet shops are reporting a 50 percent decline in sales this season.
Three factors are at work here, according to Diario de Yucatán: Competition from street vendors and shoppers are influenced by constant anti-obesity campaigns that discourage sugar consumption. And families have less money for small luxuries like candies these days.
“The truth is … that everyone sells sweets, even hardware stores,” said Katya López, an employee of the Karlitos II confectionery in the Pasaje de las Bonitas.
The most economically priced snacks and chocolates are today’s best-sellers. And the smallest piñatas, which of course deliver candy to children, sell better than large ones, reports Diario. Stars and crowns are the most popular models, although specialty piñatas that resemble either Enrique Peña Nieto or Donald Trump, are in vogue as well.
“With them many unload their anger and anger because of the serious situation in the country,” said López.
