San Rafael faces commercial crisis amid rising closures

San Rafael is experiencing a growing commercial crisis, characterized by an increasing number of vacant storefronts and businesses announcing liquidation sales. In some areas, such as the Kilómetro Cero district, multiple shops have closed within a single block.

Luis Lucchessi, head of the Unión Empleados de Comercio (UEC), attributes this decline to shrinking sales, a lack of circulating currency, and rising operational costs. Consumers are reportedly prioritizing lower prices, switching to cheaper brands, and postponing non-essential spending due to reduced purchasing power.

Other contributing factors include the growth of e-commerce and competition from imported products. The UEC has also noted concerns regarding employment, reporting inquiries about layoffs and proposals to transition employees from formal dependency to independent contractor schemes.