In a promising development for the UK retail sector, December experienced a notable upswing in footfall, defying economic challenges. Specialist tracking firm MRI Software reported a significant boost in foot traffic during the festive period, underscoring the enduring importance of traditional Christmas shopping.
According to MRI Software’s data, footfall across UK retail destinations rose by an impressive 6.1% from November to December. The final trading week before Christmas played a pivotal role in driving this surge, debunking concerns of a potential downturn in December, a trend observed in previous years when Black Friday overshadowed traditional festive shopping.
Shopping centers led the surge with an outstanding 11.1% rise in footfall in December, followed by retail parks (+5.9%) and high streets (+3.7%). The diverse offerings in shopping centers, including dining and various retail brands, positioned them as preferred destinations for consumers during the festive season.
Landsec, operator of prominent malls like Bluewater, Trinity, and Westgate, highlighted the positive performance of shopping centers. Footfall across their portfolio exceeded industry benchmarks with a 3.1% increase compared to the previous year and a remarkable 23% surge across their outlets.
While year-on-year footfall across UK retail destinations in December saw a marginal rise of 0.2%, high streets experienced a more substantial increase of 1.2%. MRI Software noted fluctuations in the month, with initial declines attributed to poor weather and rail disruptions, followed by a rebound in the final two trading weeks leading up to Christmas.
Investments in festive events and attractions paid off for high streets, witnessing noticeable increases in footfall both year on year and week on week throughout December. Despite progress, the gap from pre-pandemic footfall levels remained at 10.4% in December, an improvement from the 11.2% recorded in November.
Post-Christmas footfall dynamics revealed a 4% increase on Boxing Day compared to 2022, driven primarily by high streets (+8.8%). However, overall Boxing Day footfall was 14.9% lower than 2019 levels, indicating a shift towards online shopping that may have commenced on Christmas Day.
Central London stood out with a notable uplift in Boxing Day footfall year on year (+10.6%), surpassing 2019 levels by 1.6%, marking a significant milestone in the post-Covid era.
Looking ahead, analysts anticipate a natural post-Christmas slump, projecting footfall to decline in the range of 20% to 25%. Weather warnings and school return delays may initially impact footfall, but improvement is expected as more employees return to offices throughout the month.
Stay informed about the evolving footfall trends in the UK retail landscape as we navigate the post-holiday season.