UK hair salons and chippies among indie shops ‘most hit’ by cost of living crisis

Analysis by Local Data Company also says closures in the most affected categories have been offset by new openings in others

Hairdressers, dry cleaners and fish and chip shops were among the independent retailers hardest hit by surging energy bills and a consumer spending squeeze last year, but overall indies fared better.

A jump in shop closures among those categories was offset by new openings led by beauty salons, convenience stores and takeaways, according to the latest report by analysts at the Local Data Company. As a result, the overall number of independent retailers across the UK remained flat year on year in 2022, compared with a jump in closures of more than 2,000 in 2021.