Overview

• Summer sales opened July 5 across Italy, excluding the provinces of Trento and Bolzano, with regional calendars setting staggered start dates.
• A Confesercenti-Ipsos survey finds 62% of Italians plan to shop summer discounts, allocating an average budget of €218 per person.
• Turnover is forecast at around €3.5 billion, offering retailers a critical boost after subdued performance in the spring.
• Under the 2023 Omnibus decree and regional regulations, merchants may not advertise promotions in the 30 days before sales and must display the lowest price practiced in the previous month to ensure transparency.
• May Istat figures showed retail value fell 0.4% and volume dropped 0.5% month-on-month, with consumers buying 0.3% fewer items year-on-year while spending 1.3% more due to inflation.