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UBS Sees 80,000 Stores Closing By 2026

Apparel retailers are forecast to be most heavily affected

Published

3 years ago

April 7, 2021

In a research note UBS published this past Monday, it predicts nearly 80,000 retail stores – roughly 9 percent – will close permanently by 2026, according to Fortune.

The forecast comes as the total percentage of e-commerce retail sales continue to jump. Currently at 18 percent, UBS predicts e-commerce sales will climb to 27 percent.

The note also predicted apparel retailers will be the largest group impacted by growing e-commerce. UBS said nearly 21,000 apparel retailers could close.

Consumer electronics is another category poised to endure closures, with nearly 8000 predicted to shut their doors. In addition, roughly 7000 home furnishing stores are also likely to close. While these categories are growing, a large quantity of their sales occur online.

Jennifer Acevedo

Jennifer Acevedo is the editor-in-chief and associate publisher of VMSD magazine.

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