Focus On: Middlesbrough High Street

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: A general view of the Body Shop in Middlesbrough high street on March 11, 2024 in Middlesbrough, England. UK High Streets are suffering further losses this year as the Body Shop became the latest retail business to announce store closures in 75 locations. 4415 retail businesses disappeared from the High Street last year due to higher running costs, lack of staff and cost of living crisis affecting customer spending power. The British Retail Consortium say although " the Retail Sector invests £17bn annually and employs three million people, there was nothing in the recent budget to deliver a better future for retailers or their customers". (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)