Over the course of the pandemic, there was an inevitable shift towards online, with little choice available but the internet in order to make purchases of all kinds.

It's been suggested that shoppers entering stores should be able to use digital purchasing means while they are in there.

Data shows there was an overall 1.1% rise in retail footfall, suggesting a growing confidence among consumers to come back to the shops in person.

A report into retail trends has shown that shoppers have reversed a 25-year trend of impulsive “top-up” shopping.