The lockdown and closed shops cost Swiss shopping malls more than a billion francs in 2020.
The Swiss Council of Shopping Places analysed 191 centres across the country and determined outlets suffered a downturn of nearly 6%.
The figures are only for last year and so include the spring 2020 lockdown.
But it is less than feared by many. Retailers benefitted from ‘catch-up’ spending once the shops had reopened. Furniture, electronics, DIY and hobbies benefitted strongly.
Spending in Switzerland last year was actually up on the whole, as food shops did especially well.
This is thought to be down to fewer Swiss based customers crossing the border for weekly essentials.
All the major supermarket chains reported strong sales, according to figures from the marketing firm Gfk.
Online purchases were also up. The retailer Digitec-Galaxus reported sales up 56% last year compared to the year before.
Researchers at Gfk believe as the crises lifts, consumers will return to their previous habits and cross-border shopping will grow again. Although online shopping will stay strong.
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