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Major retail chains closed shops in the Yorkshire and Humber area at a rate of more than two a day in the first half of the year, new figures show.

The figures showing the continuing decline on the region鈥檚 high streets come from a survey conducted for accountancy firm PwC by the Local Data Company.

There was some positive news for the region, as the rate of closures slowed from this time last year.

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According to the survey, 738 chain stores closed in the first half of the year while 304 opened, leaving the region with 434 fewer shops. That was a closure rate of 2.5 per cent, matching the national rate.

PwC said Government pandemic supports such as the extended furlough scheme, business rates relief and Government-underwritten loans had played major roles in helping operators stay afloat, along with the impact of the rent moratorium.

But the firm warned the second half of this year will be 鈥渕ake or break鈥� for many outlets as Government assistance is wound down.

Joel Smith, PwC partner and consumer markets lead for the North, said: 鈥淎fter an acceleration in store closures last year coupled with last minute Christmas tier restrictions and lockdowns extending into 2021, we might have expected a higher number of store closures this year across the North.

鈥淕overnment support has proved to be the lifeline for many to weather the storm and survive the pandemic. The fate of many operators has also been helped by resilience in consumer spending, including investment in the home through lockdown and using enforced lockdowns savings for 鈥榬evenge spending鈥� when possible.

鈥淗owever, operators are far from out of the woods and the next six months will be a make or break for many chains, particularly with the reinstatement of full business rates for all but the smallest operators, the winding-down of furlough support and agreement yet to be reached between many operators and landlords on rent arrears.

鈥淭here is also continued uncertainty for hospitality businesses who will be apprehensive of further restrictions on operating and the possible requirement for vaccine passports later in the year.

鈥淏ut the good news is that there are some green shoots of optimism. Consumers still want a physical shopping experience and a number of chain stores and restaurants are opening across the regions.鈥�

The study surveyed more than 200,000 outlets operated by businesses with more than five branches across Britain, including retail, restaurants, banks, cafes and gyms.

Nationally, fashion retailers were worst affected, with 1,063 stores closing in the first half of the year, ahead of charity shops with 452 closures, car and motorbike outlets (428) and betting shops (337).

City centres were hit the most severely as people and businesses moved more to suburban or out-of-town locations, reflecting the rise in working from home. City centres suffered a 4.3% drop in their number of retail outlets, compared with a 3% decrease for commuter towns and a 2.3% decline in villages.

Paddy Lillis, general secretary of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw), said there was 鈥榣ittle comfort鈥� in this year鈥檚 figures being slightly better than 2020鈥檚.

He added: 鈥淭he coronavirus pandemic has pushed many retailers and retail workers to breaking point, so we need Government measures to be equally significant.

鈥淩etailers need urgent measures to deal with the immediate crisis and a longer term strategy to deal with some of the more fundamental structural issues facing the industry. Usdaw is calling for the Government to adopt an urgent recovery plan for the retail sector.鈥�