Footfall on Britain’s excessive streets and procuring centres plunged by greater than 1 / 4 within the week after Christmas in contrast with the week earlier than, figures present.
Customers opted to remain at house, as final week footfall was 27.7% decrease than the week earlier than and 19.7% down on the identical week in 2019, retail information analysts Springboard stated.
It was solely 7.2% increased than the identical week in 2021, when customers stayed away from excessive streets because of the unfold of the Omicron variant of Covid.
The retail consultants stated a key motive for this distinction was that final week started on Christmas Day, a Sunday, when footfall is often at its lowest, however the yr earlier than it started on Boxing Day.
There was a surge in customers on Boxing Day 2022, when footfall rose 38.8% increased than in 2021.
The hole between the tip of 2021 and 2022 was at its narrowest on New 12 months’s Eve, with footfall 1.9% increased in 2022.
It comes as figures launched on Sunday confirmed there was a big soar within the variety of retailers closing on Britain’s excessive streets.
Evaluation from the Centre for Retail Analysis (CRR) discovered that 17,145 retailers closed for good in 2022 – which is a soar of virtually 50% on the 11,449 retailers closed in 2021.
Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, stated: “Not surprisingly, footfall throughout UK retail locations throughout the week of Christmas was considerably decrease than within the week earlier than that within the remaining buying and selling week.
“Footfall was increased than in the identical week final yr, however not considerably, regardless of Christmas 2021 being overshadowed by Covid.
“A key issue right here is the offset of Christmas which meant that final week started on Christmas Day – when footfall is at its lowest – while in 2021 the week started on Boxing Day when many shops had been open and buying and selling.
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“In 2019 – the final Christmas earlier than Covid-19 – the offset is even higher, with Christmas Day falling half manner by the week earlier than and week 52 commencing on 29 December 2019.”
Wehrle stated a major pattern confirmed increased footfall on 27 December 2022 than on Boxing Day.
“Moreover, footfall rose additional on the next two days, peaking on 29 December, with the primary decline from the day earlier than occurring on 30 December, which then continued into New 12 months’s Eve 2022,” she stated.
“This demonstrates that while Boxing Day is considerably of a marker within the annual retail calendar, the important thing dates for retail spending are actually the next days when customers are more likely to have accomplished visits with household and pals and have time to make journeys out.”
