Retail trade in Italy - statistics and facts
Globally, the retail sector is an important contributor to the economic landscape, and Italy is no different in this regard. Not only is this where a lot of money is generated, it is also an industry that employs millions of Italians. The country's overall retail sales saw noticeable fluctuations in 2020 and 2021, which then stabilized by 2023. In March of 2024, Italian retail sales had grown by roughly two percent compared to 12 months earlier.
For certain categories, this jump translated to an observable change in spending within Italian households: between 2021 and 2022, total household expenditure on housing, water, electricity, and other fuels grew by a staggering 50 billion euros. Figures had also shot up for categories such as food, recreation, and clothing, and could potentially remain high as prices for goods have increased.
Italian companies and brands
Given the sheer number of well-known brands that originated in the country, from Ferrari to illycaffè, it comes as no surprise that Italy has made a name for itself as a producer of quality products. The country's most valuable brand worldwide was Gucci, with a brand value of nearly 15 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Automobili Lamborghini was the fastest growing Italian brand as of 2023, with a growth rate of about 150 percent. Other brands that saw significant growth that year include household names, such as Birra Moretti, Aperol, and Prada.Italian households are spending more
Within the realm of retail, consumers are vital, and times have not looked fantastic for the average consumer in recent times. This is mainly because of rising prices. In the last couple of decades, the highest inflation rates by far had been recorded in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, specifically, Italy’s overall consumer price index increased by just over five and a half percent. 2022 recorded an increase of over eight percent.For certain categories, this jump translated to an observable change in spending within Italian households: between 2021 and 2022, total household expenditure on housing, water, electricity, and other fuels grew by a staggering 50 billion euros. Figures had also shot up for categories such as food, recreation, and clothing, and could potentially remain high as prices for goods have increased.
