Householders are steering clear of shopping centres because of the perceived higher risk of being exposed to the COVID-19 omicron variant, instead embarking on a fresh round of do-it-yourself projects at home, which is underpinning continued strength in the hardware market.

Retail analysts are also tipping a rebound from April onwards from the temporary lull in discretionary spending as consumers gripped by fear in the first half of January are concentrating on the next step in sprucing up the home or apartment.