The number of shops that went bankrupt rose sharply between April and July, according to second-quarter retail figures from statistics agency CBS.
In total, 89 shops had to close their doors, compared with 66 in the same period last year. The number of bankruptcies in the economy as a whole fell by 7%, the figures showed.
The cause for the rise is not completely clear but competition from online shops appears to have played a role, CBS economist Marjolijn Jaarsma said. “The bankruptcies are occurring across the high street, and in different segments. Clothes outlets, for instance, have been struggling for a while,” she told the AD.
Established names, such…