Retail sales space in Austria is shrinking
An analysis by RegioData based on an assessment of 40 000 retail locations in its database, shows why the density of retail outlets in Austria’s medium-sized cities is particularly high and what are the reasons for it.
The study shows that large cities such as Vienna and Graz are not the leaders in terms of retail space per capita. It is smaller and medium-sized cities such as Wiener Neustadt, Steyr, Wels and two provincial capitals – St. Pölten and Klagenfurt – that boast with a disproportionately high retail space density. Overall, however, the density of retail outlets in Austria is very high by international standards.
The decline is expected to continue
However, the size of the retail sector in Austria has been declining steadily for more than a decade. This process is mainly due to the changed circumstances caused by e-commerce and the current slowdown in shopping. Moreover, the downward trend is expected to continue slowly but steadily in the future.
The retail space per inhabitant is currently around 1.56 square metres, compared with 1.77 square metres in 2014. This decline affects all types of locations, including city centres, shopping centres and retail parks. Shrinking retail space can help businesses cut costs while meeting the needs of consumers who are increasingly shopping online.
According to RegioData, the exit of drugstore chain Schlecker is also responsible for the downward trend in retail footprint. As a result, a number of stores, particularly large ones, disappeared from the market in one fell swoop and since then (2013) the retail space has been continuously shrinking.
Related news
Lieferando is eliminating its employee delivery-person positions in Austria
Lieferando is ending the employment of food delivery workers in…
Read more >Austria’s exports fell significantly in November
Last November, Austrian exports fell much more than imports due…
Read more >Vegetarian cooking training to start in Austria next year
In early 2025 a course for cooks specialising in vegetarian…
Read more >Related news
László Flórián will manage Praktiker from April
A new CEO will manage the Hungarian-owned, nationwide DIY chain…
Read more >Rising prices of services are driving inflation – not food
Although food prices continue to be the focus of public…
Read more >MLBKT: BMI indicates further recovery in March
The seasonally adjusted March value of the Purchasing Managers’ Index…
Read more >