Retail administration figures have declined by nearly a third in the first half of 2013, according to research by Deloitte.
The firm's analysis shows the number of retailers falling into administration in the first six months of the year fell by 30% to 87, compared with 124 in the same period last year. Overall administration levels were also down, dropping from 1035 in 2012 to 816 this year.
Lee Manning, restructuring partner at Deloitte, said: 'We have seen a number of high profile retail administrations this year including HMV, Jessops, Blockbuster, Republic, ModelZone and Dreams. However, these latest figures show that the overall picture is improving.'
While high profile casualties in the first half of 2012 saw 2,300 stores affected, in the first six months of 2013, this has almost halved to around 1,400 stores. Similarly, the number of staff employed by insolvent retailers was in the region of 28,000 in the first half of 2012, compared to around 15,000 in 2013.
'The sector has suffered significant pain in the past couple of years but we should take some confidence from today's results. Retailers are better equipped to succeed in today's tough market and we are beginning to see the sector turn a corner,' Manning said.
Separately, Begbies Traynor, as administrators of Rett Retail Ltd, announced that JD Sports has bought the business and assets of Ark out of administration, saving 10 stores and the majority of the fashion retailer's 200 jobs.
The business, which sells leading young fashion brands as well as its own brands, will continue to trade in its current form from its Leeds office and the current management team has been retained. Uneconomic stores in Norwich, Cambridge and Merry Hill, and the Hearts and Bows store in Manchester have closed.
David Acland, joint administrator and partner at Begbies Traynor, said: 'This sale has protected a large number of vital jobs in the retail sector. At the same time, it enables JD Sports to continue its ambitious expansion plans, following on as it does from other key strategic acquisitions earlier in the year.'
