Between 2012 and 2023, in Italy, over 111 thousand retail stores have disappeared and the reduction in commercial activities is more accentuated in the historic centers than in the suburbs, both for the Centre-North and for the South. The commercial fabric within the historic centers is also changing, with fewer and fewer traditional activities (fuels -40.7%, books and toys -35.8%, furniture and hardware -33.9%, clothing -25.5%) and increasingly more services and technology (pharmacies +12.4%, computers and telephony +11.8%), accommodation activities (+42%) and catering (+2.3%).
These are the main results of the analysis “Business demography in Italian cities”, carried out by the Confcommercio Research Office in collaboration with the Guglielmo Tagliacarne Study Center. “Starting from the total Italy, retail in fixed premises – reports the association – loses over 111 thousand units in 11 years (-20.2%), i.e. one in five active businesses has died and has not been replaced, 31 thousand have left perhaps forever in the period of the recent crises”. Even if the situation was known, these are alarming numbers. The causes of this phenomenon are different and the possible remedies are also different.
There are, however, two very concrete measures that could change things in a short time: the first is overcoming contractual rules, dating back almost half a century ago, which puts a stop to non-residential rentals, to be replaced with balanced rules that are in step with the times; the second is the introduction of flat rate tax for commercial rentalsforeseen by the tax reform approved by Parliament, but not yet implemented.
These are two interventions that would favor the meeting between supply and demand of commercial premises for rent and the rebirth of historic centres. What do you expect to launch them?