If it feels like more stores are closing lately and malls are looking half-empty, it’s not your imagination. Across the country, thousands of stores from major retail chains like Macy’s, Party City, and Carter’s to supermarkets and pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS have closed their doors.

Bankruptcy, rising tariffs, inflation and the rise of online shopping have driven these closures, leaving communities across the U.S. facing higher costs and difficulty accessing many everyday goods.

For shoppers and NECC students alike, this has become a familiar sight.

Dariellys Medina Duran said she found it shocking to see one of her favorite retail stores closing. “I have noticed various stores closing lately and one of my favorites was

Forever 21,” she said. “To my knowledge, the company was doing very good and making sales. So, the closing felt unreal to me.”

Medina Duran said shoppers, including herself, will have to turn to the closest nearby alternative.

For many NECC students, the closures have meant relying more on online shopping.

Allora Ramos said the shutdowns in retail stores have made it harder to find affordable clothing. 

“I think all the stores being shut down has made it very difficult for people to easily shop for affordable clothing,” she said. “A lot of brands advertise online shopping  now, but I feel like this is more difficult and it makes you spend more money than you would inside a store.”

Ramos said stores like Forever 21 offered cheaper options that were easy to find and closures like these will change the type of stores students will have to rely on.

For other students, the closures have affected not just availability, but accessibility as well. 

Observer Campus Life Editor Pheonix German said their family relied on Walgreens for essentials and they were disappointed when they found out a Walgreens near their  home had closed. 

“That store wasn’t only for other items but also a pharmacy too, so it would affect a lot of people if it’s no longer accessible,” German said.

The concern about accessibility is one many students share.

Ramos said online shopping may seem convenient, but it can be less accessible for some communities. “People who rely on physical stores will definitely be affected by store closures and accessibility is more difficult online,” she said. “It’s harder for some communities to see sizing or accessibility online.”

The high prices across stores have shoppers holding on to every dollar. 

Medina Duran said inflation and tariffs are making even basic purchases harder for families. 

“Tariffs and inflation are making shopping very difficult for low-income families who like to treat themselves once in a while,” she said. “Prices are going very high, which gives peopleno choice but to stick to the necessities.”

Other students have noticed the same trend.

“Everything is more expensive and less accessible,” Ramos said. “These prices make it hard to even find basic things like a T-shirt or jeans for cheap.”

As prices continue to rise, German said they expect the shift toward online shopping to continue. 

“Most stores would end up moving online, especially because the pandemic changed people’s shopping habits,” German said. 

“Some people might find benefits in that rather than going to a store.”