The
economic crisis continues to hit the Florence metropolitan area. According to
the Florence chapter of the national business association, Confcommercio,
consumption in December 2012 dropped by 15 percent, compared to the same month
in 2011.
In
particular, bars have experienced a 10 percent drop in sales, restaurants a 15
percent drop, while the 10 percent decrease in nightclub earnings has led to
many establishments closing during the week, a move Confcommercio described as
‘a necessary choice to cut costs.’ Sales in the fashion retail sector have also
been affected, falling about 20 percent.
Confcommercio
president Alessandra Signori said, ‘Reviving consumption should be the priority
of the new government, because without fuel the economy will not restart. It is
absolutely necessary that we seriously reform the labour market, lowering taxes
and introducing company incentives for hiring new staff and calling back those
made redundant. It is [also] essential to avoid another increase in sales tax.’
Signori
went on to make a gloomy prediction for the upcoming year, declaring that ‘2013
could be a terrible year for small- and medium-sized enterprises, and the real
danger is that the commercial fabric of small towns and the many neighbourhoods
of urban centres could disappear altogether.’
