Trading updates expose retail online divide during latest lockdown 

Penneys-owner Primark has estimated that it could lose out on €1.7bn in sales if lockdown measures keep its shops closed until the end of March

Primark — which trades here as Penneys — has warned that it could lose €1.7bn in sales if shops remain closed up to the end of March. Currently more than 300 of its shops are closed, including all of its Irish and UK outlets.

A slew of Christmas trading updates have laid bare the widening divide between high street retailers and those able to ride out Covid restrictions with an online offering.

Updates from the likes of Primark, Boohoo, and Tesco amply show how lockdown has impacted online, offline, and supermarket retailers.