UK High Street Christmas Shopping Declines Amid Cost-of-Living Pressures

Footfall on December 23 dropped 5.3% compared to last year, signaling weak consumer confidence and financial strain.

Retailers experienced a 5.3% year-on-year drop in high street footfall on December 23, traditionally a peak shopping day.
While footfall across all retail destinations rose by 28.5% compared to the previous week, the year-on-year decline highlights ongoing cost-of-living challenges for many households.
Shopping centres and retail parks saw modest year-on-year increases of 1.4% and 4.9%, respectively, while high streets lagged behind with only a 1.8% weekly increase.
Consumer confidence in the economy fell sharply in December, with spending intentions declining across nearly all retail categories, according to British Retail Consortium data.
Experts warn that this holiday season may mark the last significant spending period before a prolonged consumer spending freeze in early 2025.