According to recent research by Springboard, easing of lockdown restrictions in the UK has helped increase the number of shoppers heading to retail outlets across the country. Analysts have observed a 28% rise in the number of shoppers across all retail destinations in the UK over the past week.

Diane Wehrle, Springboard’s insights director, remarks, “It appears that even though only markets and car showrooms have opened today in addition to essential stores, shoppers are heading back into bricks-and-mortar destinations.”

However, the overall number of shoppers seen out and about is still around 60% less than the levels seen during the corresponding period last year. People are being more cautious about heading out even after the lockdown eases amid fears of contracting the virus.

The UK government had allowed car showrooms and outdoor markets selling non-essential goods to reopen starting June 1 and is expected to allow more non-essential stores to resume operations starting from June 15. Despite this, some stores choose to continue remaining shut over worries about weak demand, while others have opted for online operations in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.