UK DIY News

MRI: Post-Boxing Day Footfall Significantly Higher Than 2023

Jenni Matthews, Marketing and Insights Director at MRI Software, discusses retail footfall data for December 27th:

Shoppers have well and truly shaken off their post-Christmas slumber with footfall across all UK retail destinations up by +14.2% yesterday (27^th December), compared to 27^th December 2023. This was led by an +20.2% year on year surge in high streets followed by more modest increases in retail parks (+2.7%) and shopping centres (+12.7%).

Retail park footfall was 6% higher compared to 2019 up until 12pm, and then fell to -6.2% for the entire day, suggesting shopper habits have changed since pre-pandemic times and they are more likely to browse the Boxing Day bargains and restock on groceries ahead of visiting towns and cities to make the most of festive markets which will only be around for a few more days. It’s also a nod to the vast investments that have been made in retail parks over the last five years and how much they have diversified to become an all-encompassing retail and leisure hub for consumers.

Following a subdued start to the Boxing Day sales, this uplift is promising for retail stores and destinations. It’s expected that footfall will continue to rise as we head into the weekend as consumers continue to restock on groceries, prepare for New Year's celebrations, and hunt for Boxing Day bargains.

27th December 2024 - FULL DAY
	Week on Week % change	Year on year % change vs 27th Dec 2023	% change from 2019 vs 27th Dec 2019
All UK Destinations	-14.1%	14.2%	-15.5%
UK high streets	-13.4%	20.2%	-18.5%
UK retail parks	-17.7%	2.7%	-6.2%
UK Shopping Centres	-12.0%	12.7%	-18.2%

27th December 2024 - FULL DAY
	Week on Week % change	Year on year % change vs 27th Dec 2023	% change from 2019 vs 27th Dec 2019
Back to Office - Central London	-14.0%	16.6%	-16.1%
Central London	-4.2%	10.9%	-19.1%
Coastal Town	0.0%	43.0%	-22.9%
Historic Town	-12.4%	22.8%	-14.9%
Market Towns	-21.2%	24.8%	-26.3%
Outer London	-18.3%	25.0%	-14.2%
Regional City	-7.3%	15.6%	-14.2%
Regional City Excl London	-15.4%	16.5%	-10.7%

27th December 2024 - FULL DAY
	Week on Week % change	Year on year % change vs 27th Dec 2023	% change from 2019 vs 27th Dec 2019
East	-16.0%	12.0%	-15.1%
East Midlands	-21.6%	7.7%	-20.5%
Greater London	-10.4%	9.8%	-13.6%
North & Yorkshire	-16.7%	12.9%	-17.9%
Scotland	-10.9%	35.3%	-11.4%
South East	-15.6%	13.4%	-12.2%
South West	-11.3%	24.3%	-4.5%
Wales	-16.6%	20.4%	-25.9%
West Midlands	-20.1%	11.8%	-22.5%