Store closures to top 12,000 in 2019

The pace for store closures continues. Thus far 7,062 store closures have been announced by U.S. retailers this year, according to tracking by Coresight Research. And the tally could top 12,000 by the end of 2019, setting a new record, Coresight says. Last year, Coresight tracked 5,524 store closures, down more than 30 percent from an all-time high of 8,139 closures announced in 2017.

Amid all the closings, there are still retailers opening stores. Coresight has tracked 3,017 store opening announcements so far this year. 

However, U.S. retail sales rose 0.4 percent in June from the previous month, beating analysts' forecasts and capping a four-month stretch of increases,according to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

“The healthy increase in May retail sales of 0.5 percent over a revised 0.3 percent gain in April demon