In article , Clive George wrote:
On 22/12/2011 13:17, wrote:

I can't give a figure, but passing through many villages in England
illustrated to me the figure is quite high. A helluva high percentage
of villages have been gutted of their local shops and amenities as
incomers tend to bulk-buy in the nearest town.

Not just incomers. All people are very sensitive to percieved value, and
will go to the larger shops even if the amounts they save are offset by
the cost to get there.

Or go to the larger shops for a wider range of choice, and also buy the
stuff they could have got locally because it's slightly cheaper and they
were going there for stuff they couldn't get locally anyway.