Vacant shop figures to rise in 2012

A new report has claimed that the number of empty shops on UK high streets is set to rise

in 2012.

The Local Data Company is forecasting an increase this year due to weak consumer confidence and the growth in online shopping.

Commenting on the figures, Stephen Robertson, director general of the British Retail Consortium said: "The scale of retail failures since Christmas and number of shops standing empty show the effects of high costs and weak demand on retail businesses and the people and places that rely on them."