28/02/2013

Payday Loan Stores Fastest Growing Retail Business

Almost 1,800 high street stores closed in 2012, a new report has shown.

A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Local Data Company showed the net number of store closures rose by 174 from 2011.

The number of stores closed by retail chains could double this year from 14 stores a day in 2011 to 28 a day in 2013, after HMV, Blockbuster and Jessops collapsed, the report states.

Payday loan stores and pound shops are now the fastest-growing retailers on the high street, with card shops, computer game and health food stores the most depleted.

There has been a 20% increase in payday loan firms, a 13% increase in pawnbrokers, and nearly two pound shops were opened every week across the country.

The survey, which measured data from 500 towns and cities, also found that the number of store closures outstripped the number of store openings in every region of the country.


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