Boxing Day sales experienced a muted start this year, as data indicated a continued shift towards online shopping and an overall decrease in spending compared to the previous year. Footfall on UK high streets was down 1.5% by 3 p.m. compared to 2024, while shopping centers saw a 0.6% decrease, according to data from MRI Software.
Retail parks experienced a 6.7% increase in visitors compared to last year; however, this rise was not substantial enough to offset the declines in other areas, resulting in no significant overall increase in footfall. Barclays anticipates shoppers will spend £3.6 billion in the Boxing Day sales, a decrease from the £4.6 billion forecast for 2024, reflecting a decline in the number of people planning to participate in bargain hunting. The amount spent online is also projected to decrease.
The figures suggest a decline in the significance of Boxing Day sales as a major shopping event. While those who plan to shop have increased their budgets by 17% compared to last year, overall spending on Boxing Day sales is forecast to be lower this year.
Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, noted that shoppers have been cost-conscious throughout the year, a behavior that is likely to continue during the Boxing Day sales. This cost-consciousness, coupled with the increasing convenience and accessibility of online shopping, appears to be contributing to the decline in traditional in-store Boxing Day sales.
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