The Bank of England may not think the recovery from Covid will be complete until next year, but one measure of the economy suggests we are already back to normal: sales of coffees and sandwiches.

Pret a Manger’s weekly data showed that UK sales were higher last week than in January 2020. 

The figures included London’s financial districts, airports and West End shopping districts, as well as regional towns, northern counties and Scotland, and marked the first time that sales have returned to pre-Covid levels.

Sales in Yorkshire have led the way – standing 61pc above January 2020 – followed by a 35pc rise for the London suburbs since the beginning of the pandemic as many people continue to work from home, the figures showed.

Districts where sales are still below pre-virus levels include the City of London, 13pc down as staff spend fewer days in the office, as well as the capital’s airports and mainline stations as rail and air travel remain depressed.