Italy retail sector faces widespread decline in small businesses

Data released by Confesercenti reveals a widespread decline in retail businesses across various Italian regions between 2019 and 2025. This phenomenon, described as ‘commercial desertification,’ involves the loss of thousands of small neighborhood shops as consumer spending shifts toward international e-commerce platforms.

In Liguria, the retail sector saw a reduction of 2,952 businesses, a decline of 11.8% that represents an estimated economic loss of 443 million euros. Specific provinces like La Spezia and Savona reported significant contractions. Similarly, in Emilia-Romagna, approximately 6,485 shops closed, resulting in an estimated local economic loss of nearly 973 million euros. Notable declines were observed in Bologna, Ravenna, and Ferrara.

Other regions also reported significant losses: Vicenza lost 860 retail businesses, while the province of Teramo saw a 21% decrease. In Maremma, 364 businesses disappeared over the same period. Nationally, Confesercenti estimates that over 111,000 retail businesses have vanished across Italy, leading to a potential relocation of 16.7 billion euros in consumer spending away from local economies.