Strikes have significant financial repercussions across many sectors, and these wider ripple effects are what make industrial action by the RMT union such a powerful bargaining tool for securing better conditions for its members.
The CEBR estimated that two 24‑hour walkouts in April cost the economy between £130m and £250m in lost working days, affecting both striking RMT staff and commuters unable to travel.
It also noted that, despite the rise of cycling schemes and remote working, the direct cost of lost work days remains higher than it would have been several years ago.
Beyond lost productivity, sectors like hospitality and retail suffer heavily during Tube strikes, especially in central London, where footfall drops sharply and consumer spending declines.
Ahead of the April strikes, pubs and restaurants expected sales to fall by nearly 40 per cent, while cafés and coffee shops anticipated losses of around 34 per cent, with UKHospitality estimating the overall hit at roughly £600 million.