From the BBC:

Up to 35,000 shops could be shut during the course of 2009, according to research obtained by the BBC's Money Programme. Shops on the High Street could be closing at a rate of 100 per day, according to research firm Experian.

Every day, and tens of thousands are losing their jobs. The recession has caused havoc in High Streets up and down the country. Retailing generates almost £900bn a year and one in six workers are employed in some part of the industry.