UK Store Traffic Drops 2.5% During Holiday Season

Fewer consumers visited retail stores in the United Kingdom during the holiday shopping season and throughout the year in 2024.

Compared to last year, footfall – the number of people entering a store or shopping area – decreased by 2.5% during the three months ended December 28 and decreased by 2.2% during the TREES year, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic said on a Friday (Jan. 3) press release.

This is the second consecutive year in which British retailers have seen a decline in store traffic, according to the release.

“High streets and shopping (centres) have been hit hard throughout the year as people veer towards retail parks to take advantage of the free parking and variety of big shops,” BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson the release said. “Even the Golden Quarter, usually the peak of the shopping activity, provides little relief, with the downward steps of the season.”

During the five weeks ending December 28, total UK footfall fell by 2.2% year-on-yearaccording to the release. Shopping center footfall down 3.3%, high street footfall down 2.7% and retail park footfall has not changed.

“Retailers must now look to 2025 and plan a course to adopt new strategies to reverse this trend or (maximize) sales potential with fewer visitors, searching for a bag ways to make every store visit count,” Andy Sumpterretail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, said in the release.

In reporting in November retail sales The figures for December 20, the BRC said in a press release that retailers expect to see an increase in sales in the days before Christmas. At that point, sales “flattened” due to higher energy bills, low consumer sentiment, mild weather affecting winter clothing sales, and consumers holding back on Black sales. Friday.

It is reported December 26 which is a reduction of FOOTPRINTS of UK retailers on Boxing Day due to the shift of consumers to eCommerce and the country’s cost-of-living crisis.

Compared to last year, post-Christmas holiday footfall on UK high streets fell 10.1%, while in shopping centers fell 6.1%, the BBC reportedciting data from MRI software.

In comparison on pre-COVID levelsthe number of in-store visits decreased by 22.7%according to on the report.