The effect of the coronavirus lockdowns and the various Tier restrictions in England and other parts of the UK have added to retail's existing problems: "It has been a hammer blow against the sector, which has particularly disadvantaged most non-food stores", using the words of the Centre for Retail Research. Shopping in high streets and malls has become less pleasant. Hygiene and social-distancing rules and the frequent closure or restriction upon hospitality have made a day out shopping impossible for part of the year and an obstacle course even when shops are open. This scenario led to a total of 176 718 retail jobs lost in the UK in 2020, an average of 3 400 retail jobs each week.

Of the total, 71 811 jobs were lost through retailers falling into administration, while a further 11 968 were lost through Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs) and 92 921 jobs were lost through rationalisation*, cost cutting programmes by large retailers or small shops shutting for good.

The total number of retail jobs lost in 2020 was up by almost a quarter, compared to 143 128 jobs lost during 2019. The already dark scenario in retail jobs is expected to get even worse, as the Centre for Retail Research is predicting a further loss of 200 000 jobs in 2021.

The High Street businesses were already struggling before the COVID-19 hit, but almost a year of lockdowns and restrictions fuelled the decline to a greater extent and according to some analysts the shift towards online shopping has been accelerated by five to ten years, in this period.