David Lonsdale, director of the SRC, said the current parliamentary session had presented the Scottish retail industry with “a series of almost overwhelming challenges” including Covid and the Ukraine war.
He added: “Retailers have had to adapt to this new economic norm.
“That means fewer stores operating from fewer locations with decisions made even more on the return on investment.
“There has been a complete shift with almost all retailers of scale now operating online.”
SRC research found that in the year to July shopper footfall to retail destinations in Scotland fell by 0.9% on average.
Visits to shopping centres also declined by 0.9%.
The study also reported that government-imposed costs of operating retail stores in Scotland increased by nearly £200m this year, as a result of increases in business rates and employers’ national insurance.
Mr Lonsdale said: “The next Scottish government needs to put town and city centres and retail destinations at the heart of economic decision making.
“That should include reducing the cost of business, making it easier to visit and to invest in the high street, and ensuring it’s safe for shoppers and consumers.”