On Sunday, Madrid became the first autonomous region to introduce freedom of hours for businesses, although only a few big stores took advantage of the situation.
Any business can open to the public 24 hours a day, without restriction, under the Act for the Revitalization of Commercial Activity in the Community of Madrid, adopted by the Assembly on June 7th 2012 with the votes of the PP. The opposition groups, PSOE, IU-LV and UPyD, voted against the measure.
Sunday in Madrid, however, was basically business as usual. Some small greengrocers were open, as they always are, but most small businesses remained closed. A few of the big stores and shopping centres were open but, being summer, customers were few and far between.
Some bars and restaurants in the commercial shopping centres did, however, report an increase in trade.
Opening seven days a week does not necessarily mean increased sales, it often results in people buying exactly the same amount but spread over a week instead of six days. For many people it is more of a convenience being able to leisurely shop on a Sunday, their day off, rather than in a rush on a weekday.