The Changing Landscape of Shops in a Country: Closures and Openings from 2011 to 2018

The graph provided illustrates the number of shop closures and openings in a country over a period of eight years, from 2011 to 2018. The main features of the graph can be summarized as follows: Firstly, it is evident that the number of shop closures fluctuated throughout the given period. In 2011, there were approximately 500 shop closures, which increased steadily to reach a peak of around 800 closures in 2014. However, from 2014 onwards, there was a gradual decline in the number of closures, with only around 400 closures recorded in 2018. On the other hand, the number of new shop openings showed a different trend. In 2011, there were approximately 300 new shops that opened, which increased significantly to reach a peak of around 700 openings in 2014. After 2014, there was a slight decrease in the number of openings, with around 600 new shops recorded in 2018. In terms of comparisons, it is clear that the number of shop closures was consistently higher than the number of new shop openings throughout the given period. This indicates a challenging business environment, where more shops were closing down than opening up. However, it is worth noting that the gap between closures and openings narrowed towards the end of the period, suggesting a potential improvement in the business landscape. In conclusion, the graph highlights the changing landscape of shops in a country from 2011 to 2018, with fluctuations in the number of closures and openings. Despite the challenges faced by the retail sector, there are signs of improvement towards the end of the period.