Shops, pubs, and restaurants have gone through a 10% fall in sales as riots erupt across the UK, with fears that more than 100 of them have taken place, according to UKHospitality. In the worst areas, this figure fell as much as 40%, while some shopping centers actually witnessed a slight hike. There were widespread closures from early in the day as town centers became empty.

Recently, the UK was pushed into a troublesome situation when the threat of riots sent sales tumbling across the country. Below is a concise overview of what happened:

Riots and Their Impact

Last week, the UK was on high alert—fearing more than 100 riots by Afghans. Although the riots did not actually materialize as expected, the fear alone had a huge impact. Shops, restaurants, and pubs closed earlier than usual, and many people stayed away from town centers.

UKHospitality, the trade body representing the hospitality sector, said sales dropped 10% nationwide. That means that businesses there took in 10% less compared to what they usually take. The drop was worse in areas where riots had been anticipated. Sales went down as much as 40% in some areas; equally, footfall – the number of people going to places – dropped as much as 75%.

Why Drop Was So Bad

This fear of violence led to people staying at home rather than going out, with the result that town centers were near-deserted. Normally the town centers were packed with crowds of people out shopping and dining out. People who had preplanned events or trips cancelled these to stay safe, adding to the decrease in sales.

City centers, as well as coastal towns where many people come to have a good time, were hard hit. In several of these places, fewer customers could be seen, with many people advised to work from home. Businesses relied on these regions and therefore suffered at the result.

A Few Bright Spots

Although the overall picture was gloomy, there were a few areas that did not fare as badly. These included retail parks – out-of-town shopping centres that actually experienced a small rise in footfall. According to data trackers at MRI Software, these areas grew in popularity slightly during this period.

A bit of a mix happened in shopping centers. Most days, it saw fewer visitors. The lone exception was Tuesdays. On Tuesdays, slightly more visitors accessed shopping centers compared to other days of the week.

The Big Picture

According to UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls, this slump in sales is “startling.” She said that it hit businesses hard, particularly in areas with some threat of riots. The slump in sales and visitors meant many businesses lost a lot during this uncertain time.

The situation illustrates the fact that even fear of something bad happening can weigh much on the economy. Businesses depend on everyday customers who help keep them in business to pay bills. Many businesses, if people are too afraid to leave their homes, are not making enough money, and that can lead to much bigger problems for the economy as a whole.

What’s Next?

The UK is keeping its fingers crossed that things work out soon. If the threat of riots goes away and people start feeling safer, businesses may get a shot at recovering. For now, many are trying to adjust to the new normal and hope that things get better.

In short, the fear of riots shook off big sales drops in the UK. Visitors increased in some parts, though most businesses were affected as the count of customers was less and the closing time made it very difficult to run a business. In a nutshell, how much the business depends on an end-to-end flow of customers for its survival.

Though this was a tough period to many, the realization of the power of such fears prepares everybody for the future. Let’s hope for the best and for normalcy to return with a boost in sales for those affected businesses.