a fifth of stores lost since 2013. Major cities such as Southampton and Sheffield are also among the worst affected.

No corner of England has been left untouched by the crisis, with town centres in both the north and south badly hit with store closures. 82 of the 88 town centres included in the analysis have seen store numbers reduce since 2013.



The analysis included 80 categories of stores that can be found in typical town centres, including traditional goods retailers such as bookshops, as well as services such as funeral directors and property letting.

Clothing stores are struggling. What will replace them?

Clothing retailers have seen the biggest decline since 2013, with more than 750 shops lost. That’s bad news for the 383,000 people employed in British clothing and footwear stores,COLA smaller than the increase in premiums,” NARFE President Richard Thissen said in an e-mailed comment.

A similar situation applied in 2010 and 2011 when no COLAs were paid due to the decline in living costs in the preceding recession. In those years, CSRS retirees and others excluded from the protection paid premiums about $15-$20 higher per month than those paid by most Medicare enrollees. Congress had considered, but did not pass, legislation to prevent that difference.

Federal retirees typically are eligible to carry their government-sponsored Federal Employees Health Benefits Program coverage into retirement but the large majority of them also enroll in Medicare when they become eligible, normally at 65. Medicare then takes over as the primary payer with the FEHBP plan acting as a supplement.