"...due to a lack of disposable income in people's pockets"
You are joking, of course. Mortgages have never been cheaper, income tax allowances have increased considerably and working people have much more disposable income than they had five years ago.
Go to any restaurant - packed out, can't get a table.
Try booking a decent holiday - unless you do so a year in advance, no chance, all booked up.
Go to a town centre pub on Saturday night - packed to the gunwhales.
Drive on any motorway or trunk road - chokka block (with fuel at £1.35 a teaspoonful).
Go to any venue where parents take children in school holidays (Legoland, Safari Park, that sort of thing) packed out.
People have enormous disposable income and they're disposing of it as they want to.
The High Street is dying because it does not cater for people's requirements. My wife went to buy a dress at M&S. Was standing there with her cash and wanted her size in a dress displayed.
Wife: "Have you got this in my size"
Sales Assistant: "Can you see it there?"
Wife: "Yes of course I can, I was just testing you. No, I cannot see it"
SA: "If it's not there, we haven't got it"
Wife: "Can you order me one?"
SA:"No, you'll have to do it yourself on line."
Wife: "But I'd like to try it on"
SA: "Well you can try it on at home and return it if it doesn't fit
Wife exits with the money still in her purse.
I went to PC World to buy a new printer.
Me: "I'd like to buy one of these printers"
SA: "The stock is on the shelves below the display"
Me: "There is not one there"
SA: "Then we haven't got one"
Me: "Will you order me one?"
SA: "No, we don't do that"
I retired to home, ordered one online for £15 less, delivered to my door in two days.
Many large High Street chains do not deserve to survive. It has nothing to do with the so-called recession but everything to do with poor service.