Boxing Day Retail Trends Show Decline in High Street Shopping as Online Sales Dominate

Footfall in UK retail destinations dropped significantly compared to 2023, reflecting shifts in consumer behavior and the growing prominence of e-commerce.

• Boxing Day footfall across UK retail destinations fell by 4.9% to 12.3% compared to last year, with high streets and shopping centers experiencing the steepest declines.
• Online shopping accounted for the majority of Boxing Day purchases, with 65% of shoppers opting for digital platforms, continuing a trend seen in recent years.
• Major retailers like John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, and Next chose to keep stores closed on Boxing Day, citing staff welfare and changing profitability of physical stores.
• Economic pressures, including the cost-of-living crisis, have pushed consumers toward more practical purchases such as kitchen appliances and essential items during sales periods.
• Retailers are adapting to extended sales periods beginning as early as Christmas Eve, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday increasingly overshadowing Boxing Day as key shopping events.

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