Anyone else found supermarkets quieter than expected?

[Stopclutchingpearls]

I went shopping Monday morning and Lidl was busy but not overly. So I thought ok it’s a whole week to Xmas that may be why however just popped into ASDA today about half five tonight and it really wasn’t that busy no more than I normally see ok may be a few more but nothing notable.
so this is in the North of England I say Thais because I am thinking is it cost of living? Is it that this year because of a few factors like cost of living are people not as bothered to go shopping?
Or is it still quite early and Xmas eve will be busy ?
so how have you found shops near you?

Went to Lidl again this morning about nine am and really wasn’t busy at all it was nice to shop actually yet my friend said that asda in same town was absolutely packed yesterday Friday . So it seems no rhyme or reason

Went to M&S at 7am yesterday, virtually empty. Then onto Sainsburys about 7.20, moderately busy similar to if I call in after work on a normal day. Went to the nearest big town for non-food shopping in the afternoon, busy but not rammed, got straight in the car park. Market town in the SE.

Yes - much quieter. We are way behind this year so braved the shops today thinking it would be much worse than it is.

Popped to the local shop this morning to pick up a couple of things I forgot/couldn’t get yesterday. Expected it to be quiet but it was rammed. Think everyone else was doing the same!

My M&S was dead this morning.

I was meant to have a Sainsbury’s delivery last night but cancelled it in favour of the pub so we went shopping Wednesday night instead. Left home at 5pm and was home by 6. Got everything we wanted and dates were all nice and long. Was so happy it was easy as I was expecting it to br busy!

I'm in London suburbs and yesterday Sainsburys was very quiet but M&S was very busy. There are much larger Sainsburys and Tesco not far away so they may be busy.

Quiet here in Cornwall.

Sainsburys was quieter than expected. Lidl dead. Waitrose quiet.

(Wouldn't know about Tesco and Asda because they're so busy every day I avoid both like the plague year round)

This is my first xmas eve off work in 7 years so I thought I'd brave the crazy crowds and nip to Asda for last bits. I was ready for the massive queues and DH was going to drop me off on the main road so he didnt get stuck in the car park queue.....got there around 9.30 and it was dead!

I'm in the north and Tesco was very busy at 09:30 yesterday.

Went to M&S this morning around 9:15, again very busy.

I was only getting bits from both as I've done mine gradually over the last few weeks. Many of the other people didn't look to have big shops either.

They’re always quiet 23-24th. Absolutely mad on 21st-22nd though.

Very quiet here too, OP! Last Christmas Eve Lidl was literally jammed, huge queues for tills and couldn't get in car park. Today at same time... quiet. Less busy than a Saturday.

However sister has just been to Waitrose 30 mins away and she said it's insane. I could never afford to shop there so 🤷‍♀️

Definitely the quietest i have known m&s the other day. Went on 22nd and it was very peaceful as was sainsbos.

I went to two supermarkets yesterday and they were crazy. Not a single parking space in sainsburys.

Pretty sure a lot of it will be people not having big parties/gatherings again this year. Was talking to our neighbour earlier in the week who always had all her family for Xmas (around 10/12 of them) but didn't due to the covid restrictions for the last couple of years. She's not bothering this year, not for any particular reason, but just that the habit has been broken and her family are all doing different things (daughter and SIL gone to Dubai with their kids!). Neighbours on the other side had covid last week so they cancelled their plans. Me and OH had covid a couple of weeks ago and now still got a stinking cold, no taste/smell, etc so we're just having a quiet "two of us" Christmas too.

maybe you should have reminded the assistant that "they're spending that amount of money" because the cost of food has gone up 40-50% so if they want to have a half-decent family Christmas Day they have had to take out a second mortgage to put food on the table!

Maybe more people are opting for deliveries or Click and Collect so they don't have to go inside the store.

I had to go to Asda to get something to clean the washing machine and it was empty

Yes I went on Thursday morning, hardly anyone there first thing. I remember getting to Sainsbury's a few years ago and there was a long queue to get in the door. I'm assuming a lot more people switched to online shopping during the pandemic?

Shops all round me have been pretty much the same as usual and they were empty today - Midlands

Today, definitely. Yesterday was bonkers.

I went to Asda in Central Scotland about 11.30 last night and it was utterly chaotic with loads of empty shelves and loads of kids running about.

I went to the Co-Op this afternoon to get booze and it was also really busy.

I had a Sainsbury’s delivery this morning and there were so many items missing! Potatoes, cauliflower cheese, stuffing, pigs in blankets, cream...

I popped down to the local Co-op at lunchtime, which was almost deserted of people, but full of well-stocked shelves. I could have done my whole shop there. The only thing I didn't manage to get was the cheese crackers I wanted ( but they had other sorts).