NOT going out is the new normal as we spend less time on outdoor activities.

A study found people are at home nearly an hour longer each day than five years ago.

Boffins say the trend to stay in has grown since 2003 but was sped up by the Covid pandemic.

In 2019 the average time for out-of-home activities — including arts and sport events, shopping, work, and religious observance — was 334 minutes a day.

Last year that had fallen by 53 minutes to 281.

We also now spend 12 to 13 minutes a day less driving or on public transport.

But time spent on home-based activities such as exercise and work is up.

The US survey analysed data from 34,000 people.

Experts say offices and retail units in towns could be turned into recreation, entertainment, culture and arts hubs.

They warned the downsides of staying in include isolation and loneliness.

Another survey claims seven in ten Brits prefer to stay at home as the nights draw in.

Nearly half have a home bar and nine per cent a jukebox, beer firm PerfectDraft said.

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