Brick-and-mortar retail stores have slowly been fading from the landscape over the last decade. But the pandemic has hastened their demise.
Between 2011 and 2021, the United States had a net loss of 60,000 retail stores, representing a decline of about 12% per capita, according to an analysis of the latest U.S. Census data by travel website Upgraded Points. The decline coincides with the rise of e-commerce: About 15% of retail sales come from online purchases, a number that jumped from about 11% pre-pandemic.
The total number of retail stores in Southwest Florida has risen since 2011, but retail hasn’t kept up with the growth in the area. The same can be said statewide, as Florida has seen a 12.7% decrease in retail stores per capita.
