High street shops in the UK have been struggling for over a decade, this isn't new. In the year 2011 sales tax, called VAT, went up to 20%. Shops that sell foo

High street shops in the UK have been struggling for over a decade, this isn't new. In the year 2011 sales tax, called VAT, went up to 20%. Shops that sell food for people to eat at home have the advantage that there is no VAT on most of what they sell. A small online business can be under the £85000 VAT threshold so they don't collect 20% tax, giving them an advantage. Property prices are huge so landlords want to charge shops high rent to get a return on investment. Local councils charge high taxes on High street shops. Commercial electricity is expensive and shops have the lights on all day. Shops that are not doing well are paying staff to stand around so their staff cost may be higher than online sellers that have just enough people to run a warehouse. The linked article is specifically about the town of Erith. Erith is under the control of money-grabbing socialist Mayor Sadiq Kahn. Both shops in Erith and people who live in Erith pay a large yearly tax to the Mayor. The shoppers have less money, the shops have higher expenses. Erith is inside the ULEZ zone. It is about two and a half miles from the edge. Some people who live just outside ULEZ are discouraged from going shopping in Erith because the Mayor will charge them money to drive there in their cars. A significant percentage of people who live close enough to go shopping in Erith are encouraged to go elsewhere. Heavy Good Vehicles that deliver to shops in the ULEZ zone have to get a safety permit and pay very expensive ULEZ charges.