32 shops closing every day in Britain The closures are leading to a reshaping of Britain's high streets, with toy shops, furniture stores and computer game shops being replaced by payday loan providers, pawnbrokers, and discount stores. The departure of so many larger stores is a major issue for many town centres, especially in secondary centres, where they have for many years been their high street's anchors. The closures mean that the number of shops run by retail chains fell 1.4pc in the first half of 2012. This includes a 44pc fall in computer game shops and a 37pc decline in furniture stores, but an 11pc increase in bureau de changes, a 7pc rise in discount stores, and a 8.4pc increase in the number of pawnbrokers. Christine Cross, chief retail adviser to PwC, said: "If all retailers in distress have too many stores, then the appetite of the convenience food sector and value chain players to consume excess high street space, is a symptom of the continuing pressure on consumer spend. Apparent interest in the JJB stores from value chain players shows that some retail sectors are still in growth.