Quiet this Christmas?

[Olliesocks]

DH went to our local shopping centre first thing this morning. It was dead. Last Saturday before Xmas. I went to a different (town) one yesterday lunchtime. Also dead. Loads of parking, no queues etc
I worked retail previously and normally the last weekend before xmas is dire.

Is it the same by you?

Are we out of the habit of overspending at xmas?

Is it fear for the economy and jobs next year?

Fear of Covid?

All of the above or something else?

l think most people have probably got most of what they need, and just waiting now to get fresh stuff. Online sales are through the roof and l personally wouldnt want to go anywhere near a supermarket, shopping centre the last Sat befoe xmas.

Really really busy in our town, went for my booster and was shocked at how busy it was

My local shopping centre was mobbed this morning @10am.
M&S was a nightmare.
My local pub was mobbed @ 9am with all the kids having breakfast with Santa 🎅🎅🎅
I'm now in another pub in the city centre and it's busy.

I bought almost everything online as I usually have for the past at least 5 years. I can't think of anything less appealing than going into town the weekend before Christmas. Everything sold there is available for delivery anyway so I don't see the point in dragging myself there.

Maybe we were just lucky on timings then…

Our local high street was quite busy this morning, and the bookshop was really busy, I was glad to see! But I guess not as much as a "normal" year.