Footfall in shops on Boxing day down 50%

[RoyalFamilyFan]

Many people are putting themselves into a voluntary lockdown. Footfall in shops was down by 50% on Boxing Day. People keep saying that no restrictions are to protect businesses and the economy, but businesses are being affected anyway.

www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/shoppers-stay-home-on-boxing-day-as-footfall-drops-by-almost-half-on-pre-covid-levels/ar-AASbHPo?ocid=msedgntp

I went out yesterday and it was really quiet, even in sports direct which is always heaving. It was odd.

I don't think it's a voluntary lockdown at all. Online shopping is far more appealing than traipsing about in the rain. Sales are on all year round now so it's less special. People are skint after buying presents and hikes in food and fuel.

That is a really good point re bills too. Energy prices are going though the roof. Food prices have crept up along with pay freezes. Property don't have money to waste.

Also, stock levels are massively down? Went to TK Maxx yesterday and a lot of the shelves were half empty. It looked as if there had been no restocking (or deliveries) since before Christmas.

there was masses in my local tk max 2 weeks before christmas - one week before christmas, completely decimated

Once the rain cleared, I walked into town and went to Selfridges, it was heaving. I walked home along Bond Street, Piccadilly and Covent Garden, all were busy, possibly the busiest I have seen it for months. Were people shopping, I am not entirely sure, but everywhere I looked (and walked through), was packed.

However, I have no doubt that if I would have gone out earlier, it would have been far quieter.

Fuck all places to go on my town on Boxing Day, even the local CoOp was shut at 3 when I nipped out to get some Preparation H.

I went out yesterday and it was still quiet, including in restaurants.
Yes people buy online, but online is always open, even during lockdowns.
M and S and John Lewis have always closed on Boxing Day.
Hospitality are hoping New Years Eve parties will be a boost to the coffers.

Some M&S used to open on Boxing Day, usually the ones in popular shopping centres. I think the one in Rushden Lakes opened and MK definitely did

DD works in retail and they had 70+ people queuing to get in on Boxing Day. Her shift started later but she said it was busier than her pre-Christmas shifts. They're short staffed so she picked up extra hours yesterday and today.

I have been out at a retail park today. It wasn't dead, but it wasn't that busy either. Quieter than your average Saturday. The local high street seems busy though with lots of people carrying bags of food.

I just went to Waitrose to pick up my JL click and collect and popped over to Rushden Lakes shopping mall which had large traffic queues, though it does get bad at normal weekends because of bad road design, it was very busy and I could see a queue to get into Next so just popped into M&S food, the non food bit was also very busy, lots of families out shopping today

Went to the theatre in Leeds yesterday and it was an absolute bugger to park, everywhere was full. Clearly the news of empty shops sent people bargain hunting.

I went to Boots on BD only because I needed to take a relative somewhere else

I don't usually want to shop on BD anyway

I did order some stuff online but not much I want is in the sale