Italian retail sector economic decline

Data from Confesercenti indicates a significant contraction in the Italian retail sector between 2019 and 2025, driven by commercial desertification and the rise of international e-commerce platforms.

In the province of Padova, the number of retail businesses fell by 14.6%, from 10,063 to 8,597, resulting in an estimated loss of 219.9 million euros in local wealth. While independent workers and businesses have declined, there has been a noted increase in employees.

Similar trends are observed in other regions. In Vicenza, retail businesses decreased by 11.2%, leading to an estimated 129 million euro loss in local wealth. In Emilia-Romagna, the sector contracted by 13.8%, with nearly 6,500 shop closures representing a loss of approximately 972.75 million euros. Notable declines in this region were observed in Bologna, Ravenna, and Ferrara.

Newer data expands the scope of this decline, noting that Liguria saw a reduction of 2,952 businesses—an 11.8% decline—representing an estimated 443 million euro loss, with significant contractions in La Spezia and Savona. Other areas reporting losses include the province of Teramo, which saw a 21% decrease, and Maremma, where 364 businesses disappeared.

Nationally, Confesercenti estimates that over 111,000 retail businesses have vanished across Italy. This shift toward e-commerce has caused approximately 16.7 billion euros in household spending to no longer be retained by local economies.