The given line graph illustrates the number of shops that were closed and the number of new stores that opened in one country over eight consecutive years, starting from 2011 to 2018.
Overall, the figures for the closed shops and opened shops fluctuated erratically. However, both of them witnessed a downward trend throughout these year periods. Despite the openings having the highest number at first, they started to drop dramatically after a year and reached their lowest point in 2018.
Initially, the number of openings was at its peak in 2011-by about 8500 shops. Nevertheless, its figure recorded a significant fall in 2012, by approximately 4000 stores-a decrease of over 4500 opened shops. Then, it grew gradually between 2012 and 2014-by approximately 1000 to 1200 shops annually. However, the number of opened shops dropped by about 2000 shops in 2015 and remained stable in the next year. After that, it increased slowly in the year of 2017-by about 200 shops. In 2018, it fell and reached its bottom-by around 3000 stores.
In contrast, the closures’ figure fluctuated slightly in the first three years. Unexpectedly, its number decreased sharply in the next year-by roughly 6000 stores and reached its lowest point in 2015. Fortunately, the figure for closed shops recovered quickly in the next 12 months and climbed to around 5100 stores. In the last two years, although it fluctuated very slightly, it seemed to remain balanced at the end.