There has been an increase in the number of empty shops, with the vacancy rate rising to 10.1% in the three months to July from 9.6% in April, the highest level since April 2015, a survey by BRC-Springboard shows.
The increase is an unwelcome reminder of the heavy burden of property costs and should serve as a wake-up call, the chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, Helen Dickinson, said.
The next quarter’s figures will be the ones to watch to get a clear picture on any continued increase in vacancy rates, Diane Wehrle, marketing and insights director at Springboard, said.
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