Scotland Suffers 48% Decline in Boxing Day Footfall Compared With Pre-Pandemic Levels

In England, Boxing Day shopping footfall fell by 40% from 2019, whereas Scotland experienced a steeper decline at 48%. BBC News has more.

Shopping footfall in Scotland was 48% below Boxing Day 2019, before the pandemic.

That was a steeper fall than any region of England, where footfall was down 40%.

However, it was more than a three-fold increase on Boxing Day last year in Scotland, with lockdown restrictions being reintroduced.

Across the U.K., suburban and smaller towns did better for shopping activity, while shopping malls did least well.

Apart from the risk of Covid infection, other reasons for the low figures include some shops choosing to close to give staff a further day off, and lower numbers for a Sunday.

On Monday morning, shopper footfall on Scottish high streets and at retail centres was down by 38% on the levels seen two days after Christmas in 2019.

That is a slightly larger drop than the data, from Springboard retail consultancy, for the whole U.K. shows.

Early indications are that people have returned in larger numbers to retail parks to restock groceries following Christmas, while high streets and shopping malls have taken a bigger hit from consumer caution about Covid infection.

Worth reading in full.

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rtaylor
4 years ago

Imagine losing your customer facing/retail job early next year – then clobbered with higher energy bills thanks to carbon credits and non-spinning wind turbines.

Guns and missiles are no longer needed today. We’re in an information war and the majority do not know who it is against or that we’re even in one.

Hugh
Hugh
4 years ago
Reply to  rtaylor

And they’ve got everyone’s phones that can’t block them and you can’t ask them to stop.

Smelly Melly
4 years ago
Reply to  Hugh

Yes I’ve looked at trying to block them but couldn’t. I have blocked their numbers for T&T (I have never had the app but have had calls, which I have blocked). If you get a call on a 0300 number don’t answer it.

rtaylor
4 years ago
Reply to  Smelly Melly

I received NHS Booster text this afternoon. Isn’t this false advertising, the latest ONS report published last Tuesday had figures from 29th Nov to 12th Dec states that rooster boosters multiply the chances of making you susceptible to Omicron.

IMG_0307.PNG
scamdemic
scamdemic
4 years ago
Reply to  rtaylor

Yes I wish there was a way to block these. I’m quite shocked to be living in a world where propaganda is delivered direct to my phone!

Sandra Barwick
Sandra Barwick
4 years ago
Reply to  scamdemic

Chuck iphone int sea. Luv.

huxleypiggles
4 years ago
Reply to  Sandra Barwick

Sandra, a northern colleague.

Greetings. I always enjoy your commonsense comments.

Annie
4 years ago
Reply to  scamdemic

And you can’t answer back.

TheBluePill
4 years ago
Reply to  scamdemic

I blocked it on my android phone and reported it as spam. If they use the name NHSbooster again, my phone will delete it.

Rowan
Rowan
4 years ago
Reply to  scamdemic

Get rid of the phone.

Hopeless
4 years ago
Reply to  scamdemic

As I understand it, this booster message is direct from the phone company, in the same manner as messages they send to their customers for offers and promotions. It’s the phone people messaging on behalf of the government.

Think Harder
Think Harder
4 years ago
Reply to  Hopeless

It will be possible to block, there are clever developers around. I bet someone out there has hacked their phone to stop it but often these guys do it in a way that requires a level of knowledge to replicate.

Norman
4 years ago
Reply to  scamdemic

It is easy enough to delete the message or simply ignore it. Just content yourself with the fact that the government are just hardening people’s resolve never to take part.

Think Harder
Think Harder
4 years ago
Reply to  scamdemic

If they have their way it will be delivered straight to your brain.

annepassman
annepassman
4 years ago
Reply to  scamdemic

And don’t forget the propaganda delivered every day in newspapers and on the radio by adverts. How much money has been wasted by the government on prop lockdown, propaganda?

CynicalRealist
4 years ago
Reply to  rtaylor

It also implies that you don’t have the option to refuse it – but informed consent is always an alien concept where the clotshots are conerned!

twinkytwonk
4 years ago
Reply to  rtaylor

Just delete it and if you get one from your local doctor’s surgery you can click through the link and select why you won’t be having it.

Sandra Barwick
Sandra Barwick
4 years ago
Reply to  Smelly Melly

Just chuck your iphone int sea.

Think Harder
Think Harder
4 years ago
Reply to  Smelly Melly

Get a phone without Android or iOS.
Bit painful as Google and Apple phones have lots of nice easy to use features but do you want to be a droid or a person?

HelenaHancart
HelenaHancart
4 years ago
Reply to  Hugh

I never got the rooster call neither did hub…on our old Nokias. It’s probably winging it’s way over. I never had the visit from the tv licencing goons that they keep promising. I.absolutely ignored all previous correspondence about any of this. Hopefully we’ve disappeared from the radar for a bit.

Think Harder
Think Harder
4 years ago
Reply to  HelenaHancart

They won’t forget you forever but that doesn’t mean we should not resist. When they hold me down at gun point for the death jab at least I can go knowing I did something for the kids. And … you never know, the sheeple might wake up eventually.

Nessimmersion
4 years ago
Reply to  Hugh

Forward the spam booster message to 7726 which is OFCOM and report it as Spam, potentially dangerous to those with fragile physical or mental conditions.
They are bound by law to record every report.
Dig it out of your recycle bin if deleted already
The more complaints the merrier. 😁

Gefion
Gefion
4 years ago
Reply to  Nessimmersion

OFCOM want the number which I can’t get on my iphone. I did appear to block it though…

cornubian
4 years ago
Reply to  rtaylor

You will own nothing and be happy.

photo_2021-10-11_22-12-17.jpg
A Sceptic
A Sceptic
4 years ago

Apart from the risk of Covid infection, other reasons for the low figures include some shops choosing to close to give staff a further day off, and lower numbers for a Sunday.

How about the fact that many people cannot bear shopping in masks? I have not been in a shop since the reimposition of masks. Can’t bear the experience.

They seem to be missing the blinding obvious again…

Sandra Barwick
Sandra Barwick
4 years ago
Reply to  A Sceptic

Chuck “mask” int bin.

RedhotScot
4 years ago
Reply to  Sandra Barwick

For the sake of a text?

Nope, sorry, I’ll just ignore it.

Unless it’s personalised, in which case they have illegally gained data from your service provider, it’s a numbers exercise using power diallers to randomly select mobile numbers.

They don’t know who you are.

The Indian scammers do it daily.

Amtrup
4 years ago
Reply to  A Sceptic

Yes, the msm is pushing the message that people are avoiding shops because afraid of covid, when in fact, as you say, a large number of people are probably/almost certainly avoiding shops because they hate wearing masks and don’t understand about exemptions, that anyone can claim it if mask-wearing causes distress.

A Heretic
A Heretic
4 years ago
Reply to  Amtrup

Bugger the exemptions,the sight of all the zombies makes me irrationally angry so I choose to avoid going anywhere near them.

JohnK
4 years ago
Reply to  A Heretic

You’re both right. Although I have always declared exemption, I’ve taken my trade away from lots of them, and only go to places that are necessary. Not my fault that quite a few have gone bust – quite a long list of firms that aren’t there any more, unfortunately.

Victory Gin
4 years ago
Reply to  A Sceptic

Went into town today – some people wearing masks in shops and some are not – I will never understand those who still wear them – I mean this has been going on for nearly two years now and with the endless variants and continuing restrictions and now three jabs later the evidence is overwhelming that masks obviously do absolutely nothing to protect you – so why are so many still wearing them? Especially when when you think that this new omicron virus is about as deadly as a mild cold. I’ve come to the conclusion that those who use a mask find some kind of child-like comfort in wearing them like a toddler that finds calm and comfort when they suck their thumb. To be honest I think we are going to see these things every winter now.Then there are those who won’t give their masks up for narcissistic reasons – you see them wearing fashionable colourful ones that match their clothes or their hair colour – they’ll wear it whilst looking at their iPhones but occassionally take a sneeky look up once in a while to see if anyone is looking at them – they think the mask… Read more »

huxleypiggles
4 years ago
Reply to  Victory Gin

Brilliant.

Mezzo18
Mezzo18
4 years ago
Reply to  Victory Gin

And have they ever thought through wearing a piece of porous material across their faces in a lavatory? A room full of minuscule particles of other people’s excrement. Don’t they understand how smell works?

JohnK
4 years ago
Reply to  Victory Gin

You might be right; it’s probably a cultural copy cat job, in as much as it has long been the norm in some parts of the world on crush loaded public transport – e.g. the underground in Tokyo. Whether it really does any good in Japan or not (I suspect not, for tiny things like viruses), I’ll stick that on the wall.

Newman20
Newman20
4 years ago
Reply to  Victory Gin

Does that remind you of anyone?

GlassHalfFull
4 years ago
Reply to  A Sceptic

You should have the courage of your convictions and do what others are doing and carry on shopping without a mask.
This madness will only end when people stop complying.

A Sceptic
A Sceptic
4 years ago
Reply to  GlassHalfFull

It’s not that simple for me, it’s not so much the wearing of a mask, it’s seeing other people wearing them. It’s an autistic thing, has multiple effects on me and can cause a meltdown. Even if I hold it together, it can take hours for the emotional and physical effects to dissipate. So while I agree with your sentiment, I just don’t want to experience it if I can avoid it.

Emerald Fox
4 years ago
Reply to  A Sceptic

The face mask is the Government wanting you to keep your mouth shut and be obedient.
Who is making these mask rules – and, more importantly, why has no-one gone after these people and removed them from their position?
Posters say it’s not going to stop until the people wearing face masks stop it themselves, but surely it’s clear that so many don’t want to.
99-100% face mask compliance in Finland. Thoroughly depressing.
Give it another 20 years, eh?

Rowan
Rowan
4 years ago
Reply to  A Sceptic

You are not sceptical enough. I have carried out all my local errands as normal and all without a mask.

A Sceptic
A Sceptic
4 years ago
Reply to  Rowan

Thanks but please see my comment above, I am quite sceptical enough, just unwilling to subject myself to the mental/emotional torture of a sea of masks around me.

Amtrup
4 years ago
Reply to  A Sceptic

I totally get this. It’s horrible. I too have been avoiding most places, non-essential places, again since the renewed mandates. It is like swimming in madness/nonsense/illness.

Emerald Fox
4 years ago
Reply to  Amtrup

It’s actually frightening to witness how many people are abject morons who can’t think for themselves – this has been a clever plan in its simplicity – just make everyone ‘supervise’ everyone else with the tool of ‘social disapproval’.
I think there is only one way to get out of this now, and it doesn’t involve signing another stupid petition. But there is no organised resistance, just a few doddery old dudes meeting in the drizzle once a week in a park in Bracknell, and some old ladies shaking their walking sticks at the television.

TheApesOfWrath
4 years ago
Reply to  Amtrup

The ridiculous thing is that one day, in my local supermarket, nearly everyone, staff included, was maskless. The next day, I’m one of only three people in the same packed supermarket sans face nappy. Crazy.

realarthurdent
4 years ago

I’m an expat Scot but I’m afraid to say that the Scottish people deserve everything that’s coming, for repeatedly voting for the SNP.

Sandra Barwick
Sandra Barwick
4 years ago
Reply to  realarthurdent

Aye.

Annie
4 years ago
Reply to  realarthurdent

Pity the ones that didn’t.
I never voted for foul Dungfird and his filthy coven, but I still have to suffer them.

thefoostybadger
thefoostybadger
4 years ago
Reply to  realarthurdent

Why, (and what are the point), of the fairly frequent comments on this site to the effect that the “Scottish people”, in their entirety I presume, “deserve” whatever unpleasantness is coming their way? I, like the majority of those who chose to vote in the last election voted against Sturgeon rather than for her. Just in case it’s too complex a concept to grasp for those south of Carlisle, I’ll explain it once more…..the anti-Sturgeon vote is split 3 ways, the pro-Sturgeon vote is not. For people that can obviously see throught the false MSM narrative of the Plandemic, a large number seem to have disappointedly swallowed the “all Scots want Independence” propaganda. Saying people like myself and my loved ones “deserve” what is coming is (to me anyway), exactly like saying the Jews who didn’t vote for Hitler “deserved” their fate. TBH the thinly veiled glee that seems to accompany these posts and the supportive upticks is getting wearing…..if any of you fancy going the whole hog and actually putting us on the cattle trains, (just like we deserve remember), pm me for my address and you can come on up and have a go. In a world where… Read more »

Anti_socialist
4 years ago

I concur.

Nessimmersion
4 years ago

Well said Sir.
The Scots deserve whats coming to them in the same manner as the British deserve what the Bojo cabal is scheming to deploy, in neither case did the people.vote for that.

Anti_socialist
4 years ago
Reply to  realarthurdent

NO, that’s not right, the majority don’t vote SNP!

It’s an odd & unique position, the SNP only stay in power for one reason, bizarrely something that will never be allowed to happen, independence.

And I don’t think the SNP would survive independence if it ever did happen, so criticize the stupid electorate who can’t see the harm in their desire for the unattainable.

No one with any sense votes SNP.

RickH
4 years ago
Reply to  realarthurdent

You mean like the English voting for the Tories?

huxleypiggles
4 years ago
Reply to  RickH

Yawn.

Emerald Fox
4 years ago
Reply to  realarthurdent

Saint Nicola’s Party. Assisted by the delightful Devil Sridhar.

Anonymous
Anonymous
4 years ago

The picture of the graph is from Public Health England and displays information in relation to:
Surveillance of influenza and other respiratory viruses in the UK: Winter 2017 to 2018

Note the rise in numbers of people that had consultations with their GPs in regards to an influenza like illness in the winter of 2017/18. And the sudden jump in this same period of the number of people that called the NHS for advice about an influenza like illness.

The number of people who caught influenza-like illnesses in the flu-season of 2017/18 was way higher than the number that had become infected with similar illnesses in the flu-seasons in 2015/16 and 2016/17.

So, even if the government’s numbers about Omicron infections are not exaggerated, it is not abnormal for any particular flu-season to have higher rates of infections than previous years.

caipirinha17
caipirinha17
4 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Interesting they have not included 2018/19 (or of course 2019/20). Wonder what happened that year…

mishmash
4 years ago

comment image

Rowan
Rowan
4 years ago

Are Scots the biggest bunch of wusses and then some?

Nessimmersion
4 years ago
Reply to  Rowan

Distressing tendency to believe the propaganda disseminated by the BBC.

Rowan
Rowan
4 years ago
Reply to  Nessimmersion

Yes, which says even more about those wusses.

Emerald Fox
4 years ago
Reply to  Rowan

Look at ‘the English’ – standing there outside Tesco in their face masks and steamed-up glasses, waiting for their turn at the entrance to ‘sanitise’ their shopping trolley.
Boris, Patel, Sunak, Zahawi, Khan and Javid are TEAM SHEEPDOG!

Dodgy Geezer
Dodgy Geezer
4 years ago

I don’t trust any of the data coming out of the Covid crisis. But Worldstats shows reported figures for Covid deaths of around 5.4m at the moment.

These deaths are similar in size to the Holocaust. And all effectively caused by one man who was banned from running dangerous experiments in the USA, so shifted them to a less well regulated country where they were an accident waiting to happen.

Is anyone going to hold him to account for this?

cornubian
4 years ago
Reply to  Dodgy Geezer

Real covid deaths are non existent. Drosten manufactured his PCR test without having any viral sample so cobbled one up on the computer.

CynicalRealist
4 years ago
Reply to  Dodgy Geezer

It’s a meaningless number though – for many reasons, but particularly the with/of debate. Or to put it another way, how many of these “Covid deaths” would have died around the same time or soon afterwards anyway?

Emerald Fox
4 years ago
Reply to  Dodgy Geezer

Deaths ‘with’ Covid – and ‘detected’ with tests that don’t work for a virus that doesn’t exist.
Worldstats = World Crap.
And, no, no-one is going to call China or WHO or Fauci into account.

Now think about how to get out of this awful situation – and anything that doesn’t involve signing yet another on-line petition, or taking part in one of Javid’s YouGov polls.

DanClarke
DanClarke
4 years ago

got a photo from a relative in Canada with christmas card, of their 5 year old with his mask on, having just had his jab, the coercion was that they jabbed his teddy too. The world has flipped

Rowan
Rowan
4 years ago
Reply to  DanClarke

At least the teddy will be okay.

huxleypiggles
4 years ago
Reply to  DanClarke

Evil, fuckin stupid bastards.

The parents can rot in hell but the poor child?

Mezzo18
Mezzo18
4 years ago
Reply to  DanClarke

I hate to see masks on anyone but the sight of them on children makes me feel physically sick.

zners
zners
4 years ago

I just took my son to the London Transport Museum and I can tell ya, Covent Garden/Leicester square is heaving. These photos that they keep showing? Probably 8am on a Sunday

LonePatriot
LonePatriot
4 years ago

There happens to be heavy censorship who are looking for Ivermectin treatment. The censorship is going to the roof. I fight with big pharma. Getting Ivermectin is easy visit https://ivmpharmacy.com

A Y M
4 years ago

Sorry at this point the shopping footfall un Scotland hardly merits mention.
We have bigger Mars bars to fry.

Moderate Radical
4 years ago

For those who need a chuckle, this is a classic. It always tickles me because the bird has no appreciation of what is going on around her/outside of her narrow view, and walks right into the trap:

https://youtu.be/FzBhT6wCigY

Anonymous
Anonymous
4 years ago

Thanks, that cheered me up 🙂

Mezzo18
Mezzo18
4 years ago

The elephant in the room here is masks. No one wants to spend hours in hot, overcrowded shops, and probably on public transport before and after, being suffocated. For many people, particularly women (though the attraction has passed me by!) shopping is an enjoyable day out; a friendship or mother/daughter bonding experience. There is no pleasure in spending hours unable to breathe properly and being afraid of passing out. Menopausal women are afraid of that in hot places anyway.
There will be no chance of any high street revival until the pointless filthy rags are in the bin.

JohnK
4 years ago

The weather plus the fact that it was Sunday had their own effects, though. It was like the old days when there was no Sunday trading. I travelled over a large chunk of South Wales on that day, and no surprise that very few were on the road. Eastbound, it was more normal traffic from around Bristol onwards – although not nice weather.

Think Harder
Think Harder
4 years ago

Sheeple! Stop hiding behind the sofas, face your fears, rip off your mask and get out there. If you don’t you will own nothing and the elite will be happy. That’s only stage 1. Stage 2 is you are a useless eater that survived the jabs and must be exterminated as you are providing nothing to your masters. Stage 3 is they either a) destroy everything left in nuclear holocaust fighting each other for ultimate supremacy or b) they let AI take over in greed for more and it decides to eliminate a dangerous parasite – humans.

Aw, all pointless ravings because the idiots only listen to the BBC to get their orders. So this is Fermi’s paradox, “intelligent” life extinguishes itself due to latent tribalism. Well done for using your lizard brain only – morons with moronic virus.

Sorry, felt the need to vent my utter disappointment at the impending extinction of humanity. If there’s anyone left after 50 more years it will be a miracle.

marebobowl
marebobowl
4 years ago

Scotland on self destruct. Well done Nicola you idiot

Newman20
Newman20
4 years ago

Shouldn’t businesses in Scotland that have lost money, or worse, as a result of these nonsensical restrictions take legal action to surcharge Jeanette Krankie for the amount involved.