A study on the spending patterns across the UK has shown the impact of the pandemic on counties in North Wales.
The Financial Times has analysed card spending by a sample of British bank customers to look at how areas have been affected since Covid hit the UK in March 2020.
The full report in the FT can be accessed here.
It found that Wales actually performed better than most of the English regions despite more restrictions - although spending was still down more than 5% on pre-pandemic levels. Only the North East of England and Scotland saw a smaller spending fall.
The FT said: "Some conclusions cut against the political conventional wisdom. Scotland and Wales have done better than almost every English region despite their stricter public health measures.
"Scotland and Wales benefited from the structures of their economies.
"Across Britain, less populated areas with fewer local jobs in services did better. Areas with above-average employment in manufacturing, construction, agriculture and fisheries have tended to do best of all."
Parts of Wales have also been boosted by the staycation boom as more holidaymakers stayed in the UK. London has been badly impacted due to fewer people coming into the city to work and the hit to international travel.
How each part of North Wales performed according to the FT analysis.
Conwy
This local authority area had a very slightly worse pandemic than most for an area of this size for in-person sales. Local sales since March 2020 were down by 7.0 per cent on what might have been expected from pre-pandemic levels.
Businesses in this area also saw a 4.8 per cent rise in online sales . Taken together, this meant a total fall of 5.4 per cent.
Denbighshire
This local authority area had a strong pandemic for an area of this size for in-person sales. Local sales since March 2020 were up by 0.9 per cent on what might have been expected from pre-pandemic levels.
Businesses in this area also saw a 70.8 per cent rise in online sales . Taken together, this meant a total rise of 8.4 per cent .
Flintshire
This local authority area had a very slightly better pandemic than most for an area of this size for in-person sales. Local sales since March 2020 were down by 4.5 per cent on what might have been expected from pre-pandemic levels.
Businesses in this area also saw a 84.3 per cent rise in online sales , almost entirely driven by a surge in grocery sales. Taken together, this meant a total rise of 26.6 per cent .
Gwynedd
This county had a very slightly better pandemic than most for an area of this size for in-person sales. Local sales since March 2020 were down by 3.2 per cent on what might have been expected from pre-pandemic levels.
Businesses in this area also saw a 20.3 per cent rise in online sales , mostly driven by a surge in grocery sales. Taken together, this meant a total fall of 0.2 per cent .
Wrexham
This local authority area had a very slightly worse pandemic than most for an area of this size for in-person sales. Local sales since March 2020 were down by 6.8 per cent on what might have been expected from pre-pandemic levels.
Businesses in this area also saw a 48.9 per cent rise in online sales . Taken together, this meant a total fall of 2.1 per cent .
Isle of Anglesey
This local authority area had a strong pandemic for an area of this size for in-person sales. Local sales since March 2020 were down by 0.7 per cent on what might have been expected from pre-pandemic levels.
Businesses in this area also saw a 15.0 per cent rise in online sales , almost entirely driven by a surge in household sales. Taken together, this meant a total rise of 1.6 per cent .
Sample
The sample covers consumer sales to a set of cardholders at any merchants whose card payment machines are linked to a fixed geographical location. Depending on the area, it captures between 12 and 27 per cent of bank customers and details spending flows of £79bn since early 2019.
To drill down into your local area go to this link.
