Springboard has reported that footfall across UK retail destinations last week was 27.7% lower compared to the week before.
Footfall for the week was up slightly (7.2%) on the same week in 2021. Experts said a key reason for the slight uplift was due to the week starting on Christmas Day this year, effectively removing one trading day this year. Figures were 19.7% lower than the same week in 2019.
There was a large increase in footfall on Boxing Day, with shoppers increasing by 38.8% compared to 2021. The gap between the end of 2021 and 2022 was narrowest on New Year’s Eve, with footfall 1.9% higher in 2022.
Diane Wehrle, isnights director at Springboard, commented: “Not surprisingly, footfall across UK retail destinations during the week of Christmas was significantly lower than in the week before that in the final trading week.
“Footfall was higher than in the same week last year, but not significantly, despite Christmas 2021 being overshadowed by Covid.
“A key factor here is the offset of Christmas which meant that last week began on Christmas Day – when footfall is at its lowest – whilst in 2021, the week began on Boxing Day when many stores were open and trading.
“In 2019 – the last Christmas before Covid-19 – the offset is even greater, with Christmas Day falling part way through the week before and week 52 commencing on 29 December.
“Furthermore, footfall rose further on the following two days, peaking on 29 December, with the first decline from the day before occurring on 30 December, which then continued into New Year’s Eve 2022.
“This demonstrates that whilst Boxing Day is somewhat of a marker in the annual retail calendar, the key dates for retail spending are now the subsequent days when consumers are likely to have completed visits with family and friends and have time to make trips out.”
