The high street will take an unprecedented battering on Boxing Day as sales are set to plummet by 54 per cent, a report reveals today.
With tough new tier restrictions putting a swathe of the South East under lockdown, only 8.6 million across Britain will be trawling aisles for bargains.
And with major chains such as Marks & Spencer and John Lewis choosing to give workers a day off on December 26, shoppers face shuttered stores even in areas where non-essential shops can still open.
But it will be a Merry Click-mas as online spending is predicted to rocket by 56 per cent compared with last year to almost £2 billion as Brits stay safe from crowds and trawl the internet for best deals.