Fewer empty shops for first time since 2018

The number of empty shops and restaurants on the high street has fallen for the first time since 2018. According to figures from the Local Data Company, the national vacancy rate declined by 0.1% in the second half of last year to reach 14.4% of all shops. The retail vacancy rate hit an all-time high of 15.8% last year, but has since decreased to 15.7%. There also has been a 0.3% reduction in the vacancy rate in shopping centres, but the rate still remains high at 19.1%. The leisure vacancy rate dropped from 11.3% to 11% over six months – the biggest fall since records began in 2013. The Times (£) Photo © Emanuele Giovagnoli/SOPA Images/Shutterstock