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UK retailers see 40% jump in Boxing Day shoppers -Springboard
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LONDON (Reuters) – UK retail destinations enjoyed an almost 40% rise in shopper numbers on Monday after the first Christmas in three years with without pandemic restrictions, data compiled by Springboard showed on Tuesday.
Footfall at UK retail centres on Dec. 26 — known as Boxing Day in the UK and a key date for retailers — climbed 38.8% year-over-year, with central London clocking a 66% increase.
Still, data showed UK retail footfall for Boxing Day was 18.2% lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
UK footfall jumped 50.1% up to 12 p.m. on Boxing Day before tapering off, while footfall up to noon in central London more than doubled, rising 139.2% from a year earlier.
“Boxing Day was far from doom and gloom this year,” Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said in a statement.
“These positive results come in line with the first Christmas post-pandemic without any formal social restrictions and in spite of the cost of living crisis and the rail strikes, which inevitably affect retailers negatively.”
The numbers are “very welcome and promising” for retailers in London, Wehrle added.
(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar)
Footfall refers to the number of people visiting a retail location or shopping area within a specific time frame. It is a key metric for assessing retail performance.
Boxing Day is a public holiday celebrated on December 26 in the UK, traditionally associated with shopping sales and post-Christmas festivities.
A retail destination is a location or area that attracts shoppers, often featuring a variety of stores, restaurants, and entertainment options.
Year-over-year growth compares a specific metric, such as sales or footfall, from one year to the same period in the previous year to assess performance.
The cost of living crisis refers to a situation where the prices of essential goods and services rise significantly, impacting consumers' purchasing power and financial stability.
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