The number of shops lying vacant on British high streets fell during the final three months of 2022, despite pressure on both firms and consumers from surging costs.
Figures in a report from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Local Data Company (LDC) showed the overall vacancy rate improving to 13.8%.
It marked a 0.1 percentage point improvement on the July-September period, the report showed.
The total was also 0.6 percentage points better than the same period last year and marked the fifth consecutive quarter of falling vacancy rates in the wake of the COVID pandemic.
Despite government support, a swathe of chains and independent stores closed amid the public health restrictions.
A shift towards online shopping and staying at home during the pandemic was soon followed by a surge in costs following the reopening, with stores and hospitality struggling to recruit…
