Boxing Day footfall has edged up 4% year on year but visits to stores continue to remain below pre-pandemic levels as some retailers remained closed on the day after Christmas.
Visits to high streets surged 8.8%, according to data from retailer data company MRI Software.
However, compared with levels in 2019 – before the first coronavirus lockdown – footfall was down by about 15%.
However, Central London footfall was up 10.6% compared with 2022, and up 1.6% against pre-pandemic levels.
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The subdued numbers come as retailers including John Lewis, M&S, Next, as well as Poundland and The Range did not reopen on Boxing Day. Supermarkets Aldi, Iceland, Lidl and Waitrose also remained closed.
It is estimated that shoppers spent around £3.7bn this Boxing Day, 3% less than last year, according to GlobalData research for the VoucherCodes website.
VoucherCodes savings expert Anita Naik said: “The Boxing Day sales provide shoppers with a last-chance opportunity to splurge on themselves for the year.
“However, this is now a luxury many people are currently refraining from as the nation continues to contend with inflated prices amidst the cost of living crisis; therefore it’s no surprise that this year, fewer of us will be splashing out in the sales.”
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