Robert looks at how shopping was transformed from a chore to bebome our favourite pastime. During the economic boom of the 1950s, consumerism took off. Then came out-of-town superstores as the need for convenience rose during the 1960s. By the 1980s, shopping had been transformed into a leisure activity and when Gateshead’s MetroCentre was opened it was more than just a shopping centre it was a leisure complex complete with restaurants, cinema, and even a fun fair.
Robert takes a look back at the shopping boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s. During these years our love affair with shopping turned into a national addiction. It was fuelled by cheap credit and a buoyant economy and everybody went shopping crazy.
Robert Peston reveals how shopping in Britain was transformed over the 20th century. This episode looks at how the British high street has been hit hard in recent years by the rise of online shopping and the financial crash. The result has been a revolution in how and where we shop. From Amazon and ASOS to the world's first pop-up mall in East London, Robert shows how our shopping experience has changed and predicts how we will shop in the future.