The retail wasteland is predicted to get worse in 2018, with over 12,000 stores expected to close—a 33% jump from last year. 2017 may have been a difficult year for retailers and chains, who declared bankruptcy and shuttered physical locations en masse, but Cushman & Wakefield estimates it was just the tip of the iceberg. If they’re right, not only will 3,000 more stores than last year close, but 25 major chains may file for bankruptcy, with Sears and Stein Mart among the most likely. However, small-scale retailers and discount stores are benefitting from the industry shift. (Business Insider)
