Shop vacancy rates stabilised at 14.6% in March, according to The Local Data Company’s monthly barometer.
Town centre vacancy rates in stabilised at 14.3% during the second half of 2011, but then rose to 14.5% in January 2012, 14.6% in February and March has seen them remain at 14.6%.
Matthew Hopkinson, director at the Local Data Company, said: “March’s figure is encouraging in that it did not rise, but the fact that it did not drop as it did for the same month in 2011 shows that the number is reflecting structural change and not ‘seasonal’ factors.
“Retailers continue to suffer from a lack of consumer spend and multiple retailers are reducing their store portfolios. Game’s administration in March and more recently Aquascutum’s show the extremes in the impacts happening.”
Source: The Local Data Company
