Shops are disappearing from the British high street at a rate of 14 per day, according to new research by PwC.
In the first half of 2018, 2,692 shops closed, while 1,569 opened – leading to a net loss of 1,123.
The closures were mainly seen in the areas most affected by online shopping, such as fashion and electricals, while a shift to “in-home leisure” saw pubs taking a hit and 340 stores in the restaurant, catering and entertainment sector disappearing.
The figures raise further fears about the future of Britain’s high streets, where the number of premises lying empty soared by more than 4,400 in the first six months of 2018, according to retail analysis firm Local Data Company.
