More economic activity in ground floor premises in Barcelona
The study on economic activity in ground floor premises shows that out of a total of 68,024 premises, 61,875 were being used for an economic activity in 2024. The Directorate for Commerce, Restaurants and Food started to conduct the study ten years ago. Compared to 2022, there are nearly 3,000 more establishments in operation, representing a growth of 5%.
According to the report, the number of premises which are inactive or for sale or rent is down by 14.4%: these currently number 6,149, compared to a figure of 7,180 in 2022.
The commercial use rate, gauged by comparing the proportion of active premises in comparison with the total number of premises, is 90.9%, is over two per cent higher than for 2022. All districts show positive results, but the district with the most significant increase is Ciutat Vella (91.2%), up by ten per cent.
Diversity in economic activity
Some 34% of active premises are devoted to retail (54,907), 55% to services and 11% to other uses, Commercial density is high, with nearly four premises per 100 inhabitants. The commercia reach rate for the city stands at 3.7%, with significant growth in all districts. The figure is particularly high in Ciutat Vella (6.2%) and L’Eixample (5.1%).
Premises used for restaurants, bars and hotel services account for 32.1% of the total of services in the city, a similar percentage to 2022. In the city, 16 out of 100 available premises are used for restaurants, an indicator that has remained stable for the last few years.
The rate for everyday commerce remains at 13%, while the figure for occasional commerce (personal and household equipment and establishments devoted to culture and leisure) is 15.5%
This ongoing census study has allowed the City Council to update and maintain a thorough record of commercial activity in ground floor premises. The data can be found via the open data service or through the commercial visor.
A customer inside a shop