Late rush of shoppers ease Boxing Day blues

THE number of visitors to shops during the Boxing Day sales fell despite a late burst of bargain hunting.

Final figures released by researchers at Springboard showed the number of shoppers passing through retailers’ doors fell by 8.6pc on December 26 overall. This was a less severe fall than an initial estimate of 10pc because more people chose to go to the sales late in the day, Springboard said.

Compared with last year, the firm said visitor numbers had been down by 10.6pc before noon on Boxing Day.

However, this reduced to a drop of 9.8pc between noon and 5pm.

After 5pm the drop in footfall was 5.1pc.

Diane Wehrle, Springboard’s insights director, said: ‘Trips to bricks-andmortar destinations that include other activities, such as leisure and eating out, as well as shopping, continues to strengthen.

‘It is clear that consumers visited high streets more in the early evening than during the day.’