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The UK retail sector faced significant challenges in 2024, but 2025 is expected to be an even tougher year for retailers. Nearly 13,500 retail stores permanently shut their doors in the last 12 months -an average of 37 closures each day-according to provisional data from the Centre for Retail Research. This figure represents a notable 28.4 per cent increase from the 10,494 closures recorded in 2023, although it remains below the annual closure rates observed between 2019 and 2022. Independent retailers, typically small businesses with one to five stores, accounted for over 84 per cent of all closures during 2024. This marked a sharp 45 per cent surge in shutdowns for independents compared to the previous year when they were responsible for 74.5 per cent of closures, totalling 7,793 stores. The group's research director, Prof Joshua Bamfield told the Guardian: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025."

High street pharmacy giant Boots permanently shut down two more branches on Saturday (March 16) as it moves forward with its plan to close 300 stores. The Wrightson House branch at the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Teesside and the Aslake Close pharmacy in Sprowston were closed for good, according to BirminghamLive. The pharmacy giant and chemist announced that all their prescriptions from its branch in Sprowston will be moved to Lawson Road Health Centre, with the nearest Boots branches located in London Street and Aylsham Road. The closure of the branch at the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Teesside was confirmed to the public with a notice placed in the shop window, informing customers about nearby Boots stores to collect their prescriptions. The notice reads: "We are closing. This store will close, on March 16, 2024. Your nearest store for collecting prescriptions will be Thornaby Health Centre, Trenchard Avenue, TS17 OEE. Other stores nearby are: 12-14 High Street, Teesside Retail Park, Norton, TS20 1DN 21B Goodwood Square, TSI7 7BW."