Suburbs lead London's economic recovery while city centre struggles

Credit card data shows consumer spending shifting from central London to local areas as employees work from home

• Coronavirus - latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

London's suburbs are leading the capital's economic recovery from the pandemic, as consumers shop and dine out locally, while the absence of office workers and tourists has kept city centre spending muted.

Consumer outlay on clothes and hospitality in smaller local centres, such as Southall and East Ham, either matched or surpassed January levels by mid-July, according to a report from the thinktank Centre for London and King's College London.