Vacancy in large cities
Trade association expects 4,500 shop closures this year
22.03.2025 – 12:56 p.m.Reading time: 1 min.
The commercial association Germany presents alarming numbers – and fears large -scale vacancies. Association President Alexander von Preen has clear demands on politics.
The Trade Association of Germany (HDE) expects 4,500 shops across Germany to close this year. HDE President Alexander von Preen described the development in the newspapers of the Funke Media (Saturday editions) as “dramatic”. In 2015 there were still 370,000 shops nationwide. “Now it’s just around 300,000.”
The vacancy in the city centers has been becoming increasingly visible since Corona pandemic. In the past year, 5,000 shops should have been closed, said von Preen. Now, against the background of the effects of the Ukraine War, the consumption mood is “still valid”.
In order to reverse the trend, the rental models would have to be adapted to the current developments, demanded by Preen. “You should agree more sales -based rents so that the monthly payment is also affordable for the respective shop.” But the cities would also have to be obliged and work more on their attractiveness.
In addition, the next federal government must ensure that private investments were more likely to pay off, said von Preen. For this, incentives such as a special depreciation option for investments are needed.
“For example, I can imagine that investments in shopping, digitization, the renovation of facades, but also the installation of new heating and air conditioning technology could be taxed.
