A new report by Retail Economics and NatWest identifies the key trends affecting the high street in 2022. As the economy emerges from the pandemic, the sector is finding new ways to operate.

Retail, hospitality and leisure were among the hardest-hit sectors during the pandemic, with lockdown restrictions forcing many businesses to adapt at pace and bring forward their plans for innovation.

As we emerge from the pandemic, retail is adapting again, this time embracing further innovation in the context of a much-changed economy. When lockdowns were in place, more consumers shifted online, and according to the research conducted by Retail Economics and NatWest, this trend is likely to continue.

Importantly, businesses now require different skills and operating models in order to remain relevant to the new needs of their customers, while simultaneously dealing with supply chain challenges, inflation, varied discretionary spending power and the near-term effects of Brexit.

David Scott, our Head of Retail and Leisure, says: “This report highlights a healthy rebound of the UK economy in 2022 as we acclimatise to a life with Covid. For a sector that is reliant on consumer confidence and discretionary spending, a feel-good period will help us push on from where we are now, into a more dynamic and innovative 2022.”