Retail store closures in 2024 have skyrocketed by 69%, with over 7,000 locations shuttered so far, surpassing 2023 figures. Major brands like Party City, Big Lots, and CVS are among the hardest hit, citing inflation, unsustainable debt, and changing consumer habits favoring e-commerce giants like Amazon. Despite claims of robust consumer spending, inflation’s chokehold has drastically raised costs for businesses, forcing them to shut down. The fallout has created “pharmacy deserts,” leaving vulnerable communities without local access to essential goods and prescriptions. Small businesses and local economies face additional strain as liberal urban policies exacerbate safety and theft concerns, leading to more closures. The crisis underscores the need for fiscal conservatism and stronger support for free-market solutions to preserve traditional retail and community stability.