Britain's normally bustling high streets were deserted on Boxing Day after millions were ordered to stay at home.
The day is traditionally a busy time for non-food products such as clothing and furniture.
Sales typically go into overdrive on December 26 as retailers cash in before the new year.
In 2019, queues of people were seen outside shop doors hoping to land a bargain, while security guards were on hand to control the crowds.
This year, shoppers in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England’s tier four areas – where non-essential shops are closed – had to go online to snare a bargain, further entrenching the decline of the high street.
British Independent Retailers Association chief executive Andrew Goodacre told The National the closure of shops on Boxing Day was another missed opportunity for struggling retailers.
“The non-essential shops in tier four were closed and so have again missed out on a peak sales period,” he said.
“I am afraid we do not have specific figures but it is really bad news for clothing, fashion, beauty – the sectors that have had the hardest business year imaginable.”
According to retail experts Springboards, footfall in England’s tier four regions plunged 77.3 per cent compared with last year.
In tier two and three areas, where shops were allowed to open, footfall was still down, by 38.2 per cent and 42.4 per cent respectively.
Barclaycard estimated shoppers would spend £1 billion ($1.36bn) less this year than last year.
More retailers are expected to close across England as further areas are brought under the toughest coronavirus restrictions.
