# Italian retail sector economic decline

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/italian-retail-sector-economic-decline
> Updated: 2026-09-09T12:56:57.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

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.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-09: Italy retail sector faces widespread decline in small businesses

Confesercenti reports a significant decline in Italian retail businesses from 2019 to 2025, citing ‘commercial desertification’ as spending shifts from local shops to international e-commerce.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/retail-businesses-decline-across-several-italian-regions

### 2026-09-08: Padova retail sector loses 1,466 businesses and 219.9 million euros

Retail businesses in Padova fell by 14.6% between 2019 and 2025, causing an estimated loss of 219.9 million euros in local wealth due to commercial desertification and e-commerce growth.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/padova-retail-sector-loses-1466-businesses-and-2199-million-euros

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Cite as: Italian retail sector economic decline. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/italian-retail-sector-economic-decline