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<p>The Government has provided enhanced support through business rates relief worth
almost £10billion to businesses occupying properties used for retail, hospitality
and leisure that are accessible to visiting members of the public, given the direct
and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors.</p><p> </p><p>Recent
ONS figures show that, in the three months to May 2020, the volume of retail sales
decreased by a record 12.8%, with declines across all stores except food and non-store
retailing. The proportion spent online rose to the highest proportion on record in
May 2020 at 33.4%.</p><p> </p><p>A range of further measures to support all businesses,
including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as food and drink
wholesalers, has also been made available.</p>
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