Seems to be the case that 6,000 have lost their jobs in the two months of 2018 compared to 12,000 in all of 2017, 26,000 in all of 2016 and 7,000 in all of 2015.
So, yes, 2018 is shaping up to be a bad year for retail but there have been worse years in the past.
Big list here for those interested
http://www.retailresearch.org/whosegonebust.php