Why retailers suffered a disappointing' Christmas as December figures revealed

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"Retailers suffered a disappointing December as rising bills and food costs kept shoppers at home, figures show. Total UK footfall down was 2.9 per cent year-on-year, according to British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic data. High street visits fell 0.9 per cent and retail park footfall went down by 2.5 per cent. Shopping centres suffered most, with 5.1 per cent fewer Christmas customers year-on-year. The "Golden Quarter" (October-December) saw a 2.2 per cent fall, while UK footfall for the year was down 0.8 per cent compared to the previous year."

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Retailers experienced a weak December as rising bills and food costs reduced shopper visits across the UK. Total UK footfall fell 2.9% year-on-year, with high street visits down 0.9% and retail park footfall down 2.5%. Shopping centres recorded the steepest decline with 5.1% fewer Christmas customers. The Golden Quarter (October–December) fell 2.2%, and annual footfall declined 0.8%. Footfall dropped across all nations: England and Wales by 3.1%, Scotland by 1.5%, and Northern Ireland by 1.7%. The British Retail Consortium and Sensormatic highlighted retailer resilience in a challenging trading climate. The Independent emphasizes free access to journalism funded by donations to support on-the-ground reporting.

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