The UK's struggling retail chains are closing their shops at a rate of more than 30 a day across the UK as the economic downturn continues, according to research.

Figures show that across the UK embattled retailers closed 32 stores a day in July and August as Britain's high street continued to suffer from the consumer spending slump. That figure is up from 20 a day in the first six months of 2012.

High-profile administrations this year of major retailers including Game Group, Peacocks, Past Times and Clinton Cards helped push the number of closures of town centre chain store outlets to 953 in the first half on a net basis (meaning those closing minus those opening).

That compared with 174 in the whole of 2011, according to the study of 500 town centres by the retail data provider Local Data Company (LDC). for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

The figures will spark more concern among campaigners and politicians that Britain's high streets are being abandoned by the retail chains, leading to long-term damage as stores are boarded up and shoppers head to out-of-town centres.

After David Cameron appointed the television presenter Mary Portas to come up with solutions to reverse the decline, she made 28 recommendations, including setting up "town teams" to strengthen the running of high streets.

According to today's survey, the south-east was the worst affected area in the first half, with 215 net closures, followed by the West Midlands, with 160, and the south-west, with 129.

Shops selling computer games, toys, clothes, gifts, jewellery, cards, posters and furnitures were among the hardest hit in the first six months of 2012. JJB Sports, which is among the retailers to have collapsed in recent months, is to close 133 stores across the country despite a deal to sell 20 to its rival Sports Direct International.

Many chains are also pulling out of loss-making sites and putting ambitious expansion plans on hold in an attempt to to weather tough trading conditions.

Analysis of July and August 2012 shows that the number of closures has increased to 32 a day as a result of recent administrations.

Some shops, however, are bucking the trend. There were 7% more discount stores in Britain in the first six months on a net basis and 11% more payday loan outlets. The research also showed there were 11% more bureaux de change, 5% more convenience food stores, 8% more pawnbrokers and another 1% of charity shops.

Separate findings, also from the LDC, earlier this month showed that more town centre independents continue to open than are closing, making up for closures of chain outlets and keeping the vacancy rate from worsening. But only just: a total of 8,181 independents opened and 7,329 closed in the first half of 2012, a net increase of 852 stores.Michael Weedon, deputy chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), commented: "Shop vacancies hit one in seven nearly two years ago, but the rate has barely changed since then. With multiples pulling out of towns and internet sales continuing to grow, there has to be something interesting going on to keep that rate steady.

"There is. And, as we saw in 2011, it is the continued net growth in the number of independents that is saving our towns from an even worse vacancy rate. So the good news for all of us remains that independents are still saving the high street by opening shops."

Mike Jervis, a PwC insolvency partner and retail specialist, said: "All retailers in distress have too many locations. The insolvencies of Game, Peacocks and Clintons demonstrated this in spades. Relatively long leases, with inflexible terms, have been entered into in a growth phase of the economy which is no longer appropriate. Where over-expansion has already taken place, retailers need to face that reality and formulate a strategic plan, in partnership with landlords not in confrontation with them."

Matthew Hopkinson, director of the LDC, added: "This rapid increase in the drawdown of the multiple retailers in the first half of this year is not unexpected. It also has some way to go as consumer spend remains low and the omni-channel environment requires fewer but larger and more 'dynamic' stores.

"The departure of so many larger stores is a major issue for many town centres, especially in secondary centres, where they have for many years been their high street's anchors. A similar slowing in growth of the independents, combined with this multiples drawdown, has significant consequences beyond just driving vacancy rates up for many of these town centres."

Bill Grimsey, former chief executive of Wickes, Iceland and Focus, and who has just published Sold Out, a book on the future of the high street, said: "This latest analysis further confirms that retailers in general are in the middle of a perfect storm: too much space accumulated during the boom years, coupled with changing consumer trends to shop more online, whilst real disposable incomes are falling, has created conditions that will perpetuate the demise of the high street.

"The retail sectors bucking the trend reflect the economic environment. It's no surprise that discounters are growing. The growth of the convenience store and online sectors for food retailers will hit profits as these channels are less efficient than their capital-intensive out-of-town superstores."

He said the government should stop its wasteful "PR stunts" to regenerate high streets, and get to the heart of the issue: "They need to accept that these areas are dying as retail destinations, and communities need an approach that finds alternative uses for these buildings. Much-needed affordable housing would be a good place to start."