Commercial desertification, in Italy 460,466 vacant shops (16.9% of the total)

A recent analysis by Confcommercio and the Tagliacarne Institute reveals that Italy faces a significant issue with commercial vacancies, with 460,466 shops currently unoccupied, representing 16.9% of the total. This trend is expected to worsen, with projections indicating that by 2025, the number of vacant stores could rise to 458,000, equating to 17% of the commercial space. The clothing and footwear sectors are particularly affected, with abandonment rates exceeding 20%. The South of Italy is experiencing the most severe impacts, with a vacancy rate of 19.4%. The economic repercussions are substantial, with an estimated annual loss of 4.4 billion euros, which is about 0.2% of the country's GDP. Discussions on improving urban livability and economic policies will take place at the upcoming "inCittà 2026" forum in Bari.