According to the FootFall Index the number of shoppers in the congestion charge zone was down an average of 5.4% compared to the same two weeks in 2002 in relative terms.

However, the effect on shopper numbers in the Greater London area outside the congestion charging zone decreased by 0.3% on the same two weeks last year. FootFall says that both these sets of figures have been factored to take account of the heightened security issues and the closure of the Central Line as well as reduced consumer confidence present from the start of February.

David Smyth, marketing manager at FootFall commented: 'We have now seen the effect of the congestion charge for two whole weeks. As we can factor out a number of issues at play at the moment--the closure of the Central line, heightened security issues, and the reduced consumer confidence that has been present since the start of February--we can see that the congestion charge has had some effect on shopper numbers within the central zone.

'What is slightly more surprising is that the overall effect on shopper numbers in the area of London just outside the congestion charging zone has been somewhat subdued. The average for these two weeks is down overall and signifies that the area surrounding the congestion charge zone has not benefited from increased shopper numbers as was initially thought'.

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