France faces rising commercial vacancy and shifting retail trends

Commercial vacancy rates in France reached 11.6% in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of increases. While regional disparities exist—with Occitanie seeing rates of 13.4% and Brittany at 9.8%—the instability of businesses in city centers is a growing concern. A high turnover rate of 13.6% in ground-floor retail spaces suggests that many businesses fail shortly after establishing themselves.

The National Council of Commerce (CNC) has proposed that addressing vacancy requires more than retail-focused solutions, suggesting that housing, mobility, and urban planning policies must be better integrated into territorial strategies.

In Corsica, the restaurant sector is experiencing a shift in consumer behavior. Traditional restaurants saw a 4.9% decline in turnover during the second quarter of 2026, while fast-food establishments saw an 8.3% increase. Industry experts attribute this to declining purchasing power and changing habits, noting significant drops in attendance in regions such as Cap Corse, Cortenais, and Ajaccio.