Whatever the sector, 2017 has been a tough year for high street traders. Consumers have less money to spend, which ultimately means businesses do too – despite growing competition for staff and increasing commodity prices.

Eastern Daily Press: BHS in St Stephen's Street, Norwich. BHS was the biggest retail casualty of 2016. Picture: ANTONY KELLYBHS in St Stephen's Street, Norwich. BHS was the biggest retail casualty of 2016. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2016)

Research compiled by the Local Data Company for PwC showed the East of England suffered the heaviest losses in the first half of the year with 222 high street stores closing in the period. Here are some of the firms which have closed doors on our high streets in 2017:

Eastern Daily Press: The Budgens store on Plumstead Road., Norwich Picture: ANTONY KELLYThe Budgens store on Plumstead Road., Norwich Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2017)

Budgens: Branches of the grocer in Plumstead Road, Norwich and Watton were closed in February and March after the chain's owner, Food Retail Operations, put it into administration.

Eastern Daily Press: The former Store Twenty One in Great Yarmouth. Photo: George RyanThe former Store Twenty One in Great Yarmouth. Photo: George Ryan (Image: Archant)

Store Twenty One: The fashion chain closed its shops in Sheringham, Thetford and Great Yarmouth after tough trading conditions hurt revenues. Other fashion retailers, such as New Look and Jaeger (see below), have been suffering from decreasing sales.

Eastern Daily Press: The Multiyork offices in Thetford. Picture: Sonya DuncanThe Multiyork offices in Thetford. Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: Archant 2017)

Multiyork: Despite improving financial fortunes the furniture firm, which has its head office and factory in Thetford, was put into administration in November. DFS has offered to take on the leases of eight stores – although none are in East Anglia – and has also bid for company assets including the brand itself, meaning the Multiyork name is likely to disappear from the high street.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. Picture : ANTONY KELLYNorwich and Peterborough Building Society. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

Norwich and Peterborough Building Society: Its owner Yorkshire Building Society announced it was removing the brand from the high street in January, with 28 branches closed, others rebranded with the parent company name, and a handful taken on by the Nottingham Building Society.

Eastern Daily Press: LloydsPharmacy on King Street, Thetford, is set to close at the end of December. Picture: Rebecca MurphyLloydsPharmacy on King Street, Thetford, is set to close at the end of December. Picture: Rebecca Murphy (Image: Archant)

LloydsPharmacy: The chain, which has more than 30 branches in Norfolk and Suffolk, announced in October it would be closing 190 stores nationwide – including in Thetford – due to changes in government policy.

Eastern Daily Press: The Jaeger factory on Bergen Way, which is on the North Lynn Industrial Estate. Picture: Matthew Usher.The Jaeger factory on Bergen Way, which is on the North Lynn Industrial Estate. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: � Archant Norfolk 2013)

Jaeger: In April the fashion retailer announced that 20 stores, including one in Cambridge, were to close with a loss of 165 jobs. A further 12 jobs will be lost at the firm's King's Lynn distribution centre.

Eastern Daily Press: Peggy Gardner(left) and Vanessa Jacobs (right) outside Jones Bootmaker in Ipswich. Picture: ADAM HOWLETTPeggy Gardner(left) and Vanessa Jacobs (right) outside Jones Bootmaker in Ipswich. Picture: ADAM HOWLETT (Image: Archant)

Jones Bootmaker, Norwich: The footwear retailer closed its branch in Chapelfield, along with one in Ipswich, after a rescue deal resulted in several under-performing stores being shut.

Eastern Daily Press: Prelude Records in Norwich which closed after 30 years. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYPrelude Records in Norwich which closed after 30 years. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Prelude Records, Norwich: After more than 30 years of trading this specialist classical music shop in St Giles Street – one of few remaining in the country – closed on March 30.

Eastern Daily Press: Greenwoods in King's Lynn. Picture: Sonya DuncanGreenwoods in King's Lynn. Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: ARCHANT EASTERN DAILY PRESS (01603) 772434)

Greenwoods: The menswear outlet went into administration in September. It was purchased by Versatile International Trading, which decided to close 22 of its 65 stores, including in King's Lynn and Lowestoft.

Linens Direct: An online and store retailer with 35 branches, the Essex-based textiles wholesaler went into administration in July and ceased trading. Twelve staff were made redundant at its Colchester and Chelmsford stores.

iCandy: The greeting cards and gifts chain shut four of its 14 stores, with 22 confirmed job cuts, after going into administration in May. But its stores in the East of England were said to be continuing to trade well.