'Big surge' in shoppers going out to enjoy themselves

10 hours ago

Dave HarveyWest of England business and environment correspondent

Shoppers have been "very cautious" up to Christmas

BBC A shopper passes a shop window with red sale, 70% off signs on a high street. There are other people walking in the background, some with shopping bags and a Halifax sign. There are tree branches on the right of the picture. — Shoppers have been "very cautious" up to Christmas

Figures show a "big surge" in shoppers heading out later in the day during the post-Christmas sales, according to retail analysts

Footfall figures revealed UK High Streets were down 1.5% on 2024, while shopping centres saw a 0.6% fall, according to data from MRI Software.

However, crowds after 17:00 GMT made up for the slow start.

Susannah Streeter, an independent retail analyst, said: "We saw a big surge. With numbers increasing by 4.4% for that time compared to 2024, clearly people wanted to go out and enjoy themselves."

Ms Streeter said that people go shopping later in the day as a social event, rather than just to find bargains

Ms Streeter wearing a black borg coat and a pink jumper, standing in front of Cabot Circus in Bristol with Foot Locker in the background and some bright Christmas star decorations. — Ms Streeter said that people go shopping later in the day as a social event, rather than just to find bargains

Ms Streeter explained: "It's not just shopping, but people want to go out to eat, drink and meet friends and essentially enjoy themselves."

Analysts believe this is why so many more people came out in the evenings and later in the day over the weekend.

Cabot Circus, Cribbs Causeway, and Bath city centre all offer upmarket dining and drinking, along with cinemas and mini-golf, with festive ice skating available during the Christmas period.

However, Ms Streeter said shoppers have been "very cautious up until this point" with retail sales in October and November "disappointing".

So it remains to be seen whether the late surge in spending will make up for that, she said.

Emma Coombs (right) and her family were looking for bargains in Bristol

Emma Coombs with her family at Bristol's Cabot Circus. Ms Coombs is wearing a leather look black coat and a pink checked scarf. Her family are all in coats and smiling at the camera. Foot locker is visible in the background. — Emma Coombs (right) and her family were looking for bargains in Bristol

So what do shoppers make of it?

Judy Norris, from Toronto in Canada, was visiting family in Bristol and said Cabot Circus "was more crowded on the weekend, but [on Monday it was] lovely".

"We've bought something at 50% off, so we think we've done well," she added.

Dawn Price, from Neath in south Wales, said: "It was quite busy, we went to return some things and we had a little browse around, and it's nice to see it a little bit quieter today."

But some questioned whether there really are any bargains to be had.

Despite signs tempting shoppers in with 50% off, even 70% off, many have already had their discounts before Christmas.

"I think throughout the whole year, you can get better deals," said Emma Coombs, visiting Bristol from Norfolk.

"I'm not going to lie, I did a lot of my presents at the beginning of the week before Christmas because they were cheaper than the sales now," she added.

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