River Island and Primark are among the major retailers that have declared store closures for January 2026. The Centre for Retail Research reported that 54 retailers went bankrupt last year, leading to the closure of 3,080 stores and the loss of 30,153 jobs. Retail sales volumes experienced a slight decline of 0.1% in November based on data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
In the current month, River Island will be shutting down at least 27 stores as part of its restructuring efforts. Some locations like Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees have already closed towards the end of 2025. Additionally, Poundland is set to close 12 shops in January following a High Court-approved restructure, with 57 stores already closed by September last year after being acquired by investment firm Gordon Brothers.
Primark recently closed its Dartford store due to significant building repair needs, marking its first closure in over a decade. Lloyds Banking Group, including Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, will be closing a total of 34 branches this month, attributing the decision to the increasing preference for online banking services.
The closures by these retailers and banks reflect ongoing shifts in consumer behavior and operational strategies in response to market dynamics.