Open all hours

Yet, while confidence might be in short supply, the latest trading figures revealed by Morrisons, and the Bradford-based firm’s decision to extend its store opening hours, is indicative of the retail industry’s future direction of travel.

And, while Morrisons has chosen not to follow the example of its rivals and open its doors for 24 hours a day, the move is, nevertheless, a reflection of an evolving society and changing work patterns.

It is still less than 20 years since the Government relaxed the Sunday trading laws to permit stores, like Morrisons, to open seven days a week. And, back in the 1970s, shops used to have at least one early closing day midweek – and rarely stayed open on a Saturday afternoon.

Yet, despite this, families survived and rarely ran short of grocery essentials. What has changed more? The financial muscle of the supermarkets – or the public’s expectations that threaten the viability of those independent stores which were once the bedrock of every high street?