The Boxing Day sales have proved a disappointment for retailers, with footfall down 10 per cent on last year — and down 31 per cent since 2019 — while some, including John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Next, opted to remain shut for the bank holiday.
In years gone by, shopping districts such as Oxford Street in London, Briggate in Leeds and Princes Street in Edinburgh have benefited from some of their best days of trading during the period between Christmas and New Year.
Jenni Matthews, an analyst with MRI Software, which analysed the footfall, said the overall downturn was probably linked to the cost of living crisis, as well as online shopping. “The growing presence of online shopping continues to reshape spending habits,”