Major U.S. retailers closed nearly 7,000 stores while opening approximately 5,700 new locations in 2008 resulting in a net loss of more than 1,000 stores for the year, according to exclusive research compiled by CoStar Group Inc.'s news division. Although not unexpected, the extent of the net loss in store count is sobering as it follows several consecutive years of retail expansion and substantial net store growth. What's more, with industry experts predicting the country won't see the start of a retail recovery until late 2009 or early 2010, the net store result for 2009 could easily echo that of 2008.