SHOPPERS have been spending 121 per cent more than average in Weymouth and Portland since stores reopened as lockdown measures eased - to the delight of business bosses.
Non-essential retailers were allowed to reopen on April 12 for the first time since early January.
Banking firm Revolut analysed the data of 4,000 customers in Weymouth and Portland between April 12 and 18, comparing it to the average weekly spend in February 2020 - prior to lockdown.
Figures showed shoppers spent 121 per cent more on average than normal during this time - with TK Maxx the most popular store.
The first day of trading saw even higher levels of spending - with 209 per cent more splurged than the average Monday in February of last year.
Craig Oakes, president of Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, said: "This isn’t surprising really. People have been cooped up for months and are desperate to get their own retail therapy.
"You only have to look at some of the nationals like Primark paying 100 per cent furlough payments back to the Government to see that at this point, on the high street, tills are ringing once more.
"Long may it continue here in Weymouth and Portland. Retail in general has taken a hammering in recent years even before the most recent pandemic that they have had to deal with."
Ian Girling, Dorset Chamber chief executive, said: "It's incredibly encouraging to see this initial uplift for retail in Weymouth and Portland following the easing of lockdown restrictions.
"Pent-up demand and good weather has contributed to this welcome boost for the high street, which has been one of the worst hit sectors during the pandemic.
"There may be another shot in the arm for the borough when the next restrictions lift in May and June, but the challenge now is to maintain and increase footfall in town centres and shopping streets in the longer term.
"The challenges for the high street began long before the pandemic so we now have to seize the opportunity to breathe new life into the shopping streets of Weymouth and Portland as well as the rest of Dorset for the years to come."
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said it expects footfall to increase as more outlets reopen.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: "Retailers hope confidence will return to high streets, shopping centres and retail parks, and encourage consumers to release some of the £160 billion saved up during this pandemic.
"By unlocking consumer savings, retail has a key role to play in the wider economic recovery."
twitter: @SamMcKReporter
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