National Retail Barometer

Published: February 2009
Source/Company: Colliers CRE

Abstract:
Since October 2006, Colliers CRE Research has been monitoring retail vacancy rates across a sample of 15 UK city and town centres. We believe these locations provide a good indicator of the changing national retail market. The number and floorspace of void units is recorded every six months – in April and October each year.

The on-set of economic recession has begun to undermine the previously buoyant retail sector and many retailers have already gone into administration, leading to an increase in vacant units. Given the growing focus on retail vacancies and the health of the high street, we have taken this opportunity to publish our first National Retail Barometer, which analyses time series data on retail voids. This new publication complements our existing bi-annual Central London Retail Health Check research papers.

It is our intention to publish six monthly updates of the National Retail Barometer. This will enable readers to track the impact of the economic downturn on the nation’s high streets.