Retailers across the United Kingdom enjoyed a spectacular post-Christmas bounce, with new data revealing that Boxing Day 2024 witnessed the most significant surge in shopper numbers for more than ten years.
Industry analysts reported a nationwide 4.4% increase in footfall compared to Boxing Day 2023, marking a major positive shift for the sector. The day saw crowds descend upon high streets, retail parks, and shopping centres as Britons embarked on their traditional hunt for post-Christmas sales.
Evening Surge Drives Record Numbers
While the morning of December 26th got off to a slow start in town centres and malls, the data from retail analysts MRI Software tells a story of a dramatic evening turnaround. The firm, which monitors over 660 UK retail destinations using cameras, recorded a sharp peak in visits between 5pm and 11pm.
During this key evening window, footfall across all retail locations soared by an average of 9.6% year-on-year. This contrasted sharply with the average rise of just 3.1% recorded between 6am and 5pm on the same day.
Jenni Matthews, a retail analyst at MRI Software, suggested the evening rush indicated that many people were combining shopping with leisure. "The fact that much of the uplift came from the evening period suggests that people may have been going out for leisure activities or going out for a bite to eat," she told the Press Association.
Regional Variations and Store Closures
The footfall increase was not uniform across all location types. Retail parks led the charge with an impressive 8.8% rise, potentially buoyed by supermarkets like Sainsbury's and Tesco opening their doors. High streets saw a solid 3.6% increase, while shopping centres experienced a more modest 2.1% growth.
However, not all major chains traded on Boxing Day. Stores including Marks and Spencer, Aldi, and Lidl remained closed, which Ms Matthews noted likely benefited leisure and hospitality venues as people sought alternative activities.
Seaside towns emerged as particular hotspots, enjoying a remarkable 16.1% boost in visitor numbers. This spike was likely driven by special events and attractions, such as high street markets, taking place during the festive period.
A Positive End to a Challenging Year
Ms Matthews highlighted that this strong performance followed a "slow lead-up" to Christmas Eve, which itself then saw a "big boost" as last-minute shoppers hit the stores. She also noted that many consumers had completed their gift buying earlier in November.
Describing December 26th overall as a "bumper day for all UK retail destinations", the analyst struck an optimistic note for the sector's year-end. "This is an early indicator that the retail sector may well end the year on a positive note given the challenging times faced at the beginning of the year," Ms Matthews concluded.
