Businesses continue to grow, but much more slowly than in the past. This is what emerges from the data released by the Business Register of Unioncamere based on Movimprese, the quarterly survey conducted by InfoCamere.
In 2019, 353.052 businesses were born in Italy, around 5 more than in 2018. 326.423 businesses ceased trading, 10 more than in 2018. The balance between income and expenditure is therefore positive for 26.629 companies, a figure which however represents the lowest result in the last 5 years. As at 31 December 2019, the total stock of existing companies amounted to 6.091.971 units.
To record the best performance, according to Unioncamere are tourism-related services (8.211 more businesses for accommodation and catering), followed by professional activities (+6.663), business services (+6.319) and – thanks to the low cost of mortgages and incentives for building and energy recovery – real estate activities (+ 4.663) and from construction (+3.258).
On the other hand, a minus sign for manufacturing (-4.107 companies), trade (-12.264) and agriculture (-7.432) also badly. Encouraging signs are coming from the handicraft industry which, despite closing the annual balance in the red (-7.592 activities), after eight years sees the number of new businesses grow again, underlines Unioncamere.
From a geographical point of view, the North-East remains at a standstill (-0,1% growth rate, equivalent to about a thousand fewer companies in 12 months). On the other hand, the South is positive which, with a growth of 14.534 units, alone determines more than half (54,6%) of the 2019 balance. From a regional point of view, Lazio dominates the "ranking", with 9.206 companies more than in 2018 and a growth rate of 1,4%). Followed by Campania (5.746) and Lombardy (+5.073). In Negative instead Piedmont (-1.517), Emilia-Romagna (-1.431) and Marche (-909). In percentage terms, Friuli Venezia Giulia (-0,7%) marked the most pace.
Unioncamere points out that the balance sheet of the entrepreneurial fabric remains positive almost exclusively thanks to the limited companies, which recorded a growth rate of 3,52%, with a balance equal to 60.382 more companies than in 2018. A figure sufficient to compensate for the loss of around 18 thousand partnerships (-1,8%) and just over 16 thousand sole proprietorships (-0,5%).
"The turnover of our companies is accentuated in 2019", underlines the president of Unioncamere Charles Sangalli. “The uncertainties of the international context – he adds – are felt above all in the sectors most exposed to competition, such as manufacturing. Trade also shows a decline, while the attractiveness of our country feeds the tourism industry, which continues to grow, as well as professional activities and business services. The desire to do business remains high. We must continue to work alongside companies to increase their competitiveness".
