More people heading to Falkirk shops before lockdown restrictions eased

Residents across Falkirk district are spending more time at shops and food outlets than earlier in lockdown, figures from Google suggest.

Google uses location data from phones and other personal devices to track trends in people’s movement in the home, retail and recreation establishments, grocery stores and pharmacies, public transport hubs, workplaces and parks and green spaces.

The report shows an increase in activity within local retail and recreation venues during the week to May 16, compared to the week before.

This suggests people are venturing out to shops more regularly, or for longer periods of time.

The weekly figures show time spent in retail sites – not including grocery stores and speciality food shops – was 63 per cent lower than during a five-week baseline period at the start of the year.

While the week before it had been 66 per cent lower than usual levels.

In the first report, which covered the week to March 29 when the lockdown came into effect, retail activity was down 69 per cent.

The data suggests people in Falkirk are spending more time in retail and recreation venues than elsewhere in the UK.

Nationally people spent 70 per cent less time than usual in shopping centres and food outlets last week.

Last week some parts of the UK eased some of the lockdown measures, however Scotland maintained its ‘stay at home’ message.

Meanwhile, in Falkirk district visits to public transport hubs were 52 per cent down on usual levels; workplaces were 55 per cent quieter than usual; food shops and pharmacies saw 22 per cent less traffic and people spent 23 per cent more time at home than usual.

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