UK retail footfall surges on Boxing Day
UK retail footfall surged 33.8% on Boxing Day, with high streets and central London leading the charge.
According to retail experts Springboard, retail footfall shot up 44.1% across high streets, 40.4% in shopping centres, and 25.9% in retail parks.
Central London footfall rose 139.2% up to 1200 GMT on Monday and 66% higher overall. Central London footfall was just 7.8% lower on Boxing Day compared to 2019.
Diane Wehrle, Springboard's insights director, said: "Boxing Day was far from doom and gloom this year; there was a better performance on Boxing Day morning with a +50.1% increase in footfall, however, footfall remained strong overall, with a +38.8% increase across the UK versus 2021.
"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."
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com