Britain’s high street crisis has deepened dramatically with nearly half of independent retailers reporting sales have crashed compared to last year, according to the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), which shows the scale of the struggle facing businesses.
The figures show 46 percent of businesses suffered worse second quarter 2025 trading compared to the same period in 2024, with stretched household budgets leaving customers unable to afford “extra luxuries.”
The latest Heartbeat survey, conducted over two weeks from July to August 2025, gathered responses from Bira Group members and the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT). The quarterly research measures trading performance throughout the year, providing crucial insights into
