Retail sales increased in Parma in the first quarter of the year: +1.1%, compared to the same period in 2023, which largely exceeds the regional figure (+0.1%).
The positive trend emerges from the analyzes of the Studies and Statistics office of the Emilia Chamber of Commerce based on the results of the economic survey of the chamber system on local commercial companies.
The Chamber’s analysis, among other things, highlights that 43% of the companies interviewed confirm a certain development (coinciding with the regional data), 28% stability (31% regional) and 29% register a slowdown (27% regional) .
On the other hand, the number of companies active in Parma’s trade is decreasing, going from 7,919 at the end of March 2023 to 7,857, with a decrease of 0.8% (62 fewer units).
Specifically, the analyzes of the Emilia Chamber of Commerce highlight a growth in the retail trade of food products (+0.5%), while non-food products are decreasing (-1%).
The negative values concern, in particular, clothing and accessories (-1.2%), while the changes in the trade of household products and household appliances are positive (+0.5%).
Supermarkets, hypermarkets and department stores recorded a significant increase (+9.0%) and, in general, businesses with 20 employees and more reacted better, growing by 3.9% compared to the first quarter of 2023, while negative variations were recorded for businesses with 1 to 5 employees (-1.4%) and for businesses with 6 to 19 employees (-1.0%).
“The cemeteries are full of indispensable people”, the exception is Michele Guerra for the center-left of Parma (by Andrea Marsiletti)
The consistency of warehouse stocks at the end of the quarter recorded an adequate and stable value for 85% of the surveyed sample companies (86% regional), increasing for 13% (coinciding with the regional data) and decreasing for 2 % (substantially in line with the regional data). In particular, adequacy is found for 85% on food products and 81% on non-food products (with 95% on household products – household appliances and 73% on clothing and accessories). 100% adequacy for large-scale distribution, while the percentage drops for smaller size classes: 78% for shops with 1-5 employees, 89% for those with 6 employees and more.
In relation to the organizational processes underway in the sector, of the total number of companies it is highlighted that 8.8% have at least one point of sale inside shopping centers (including: 4.5% have all points of sale in centers and 4.3% only some). 16.3% are made up of companies associated with an organized trade group; 5.0% operate in franchising. Finally, among the companies that have a surface area (in m2) dedicated to sales, 68.9% reaches 150 m2, 11.9% from 151 to 250 m2, 12% from 251 to 400 m2, 4 .9% from 401 to 1,500 m2, to then reach much lower percentages with larger surfaces: 1.2% from 1501 to 2500 m2, 0.8% from 3,501 and above.
Regarding sales trend forecasts for the second quarter, 52% of companies express stability (58% regional), 34% increase (26% regional) and 14% hypothesize a decrease (16% regional). Greater confidence in development is obviously recorded in the large-scale retail and department store sector (94%). The forecasts of orders from suppliers by companies in the retail sector, again for the second quarter of the year, are quite in line with the regional data and see 62% of companies interviewed voted for stability (61% regional), 18 % expecting an increase (20% regional) and 21% fearing a decrease (19% regional).
Looking further, the orientation of Parma companies regarding the evolution of their business in the following twelve months is 60% towards a certain stability (57% the regional figure) with an opinion of 56% for food products and 68% for non-food ones, the latter with in particular an 82% stability in the clothing and accessories trade. For 33% of the companies involved in the survey expressed an opinion of potential development (37% regional), for 6% slowdown (5% regional), finally 1% for withdrawal from the market (coinciding with the regional data).
