The report "Cities Outlook 2022" highlights five surprising trends that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Firstly, online shopping initially surged but then stalled when shops reopened. Secondly, pubs and restaurants were not the hardest hit, with fashion being the biggest casualty on the high street. Sales bounced back to pre-pandemic levels by September 2021, but fashion sales remain well below pre-pandemic levels in most cities. Thirdly, there has been a significant shift to buying clothes online, and most suburbs are not experiencing a boost at the expense of city centres. Fourthly, suburbs have an advantage in some categories, such as retail, but there are no real differences in others, such as food and drink and fashion. Finally, suburbs were cushioned from the worst effects of the pandemic, with weeks of lost sales being significantly lower than those in city centres.
