According to our retail analysts, Boxing Day saw one of the largest increases in footfall seen at retail locations across the UK. An evening surge helped carry footfall to a 10-year high! Vacations taken under the revenge spending narrative Retail analyst at MRI, Jenni Matthews, noticed something new from shoppers. Then they are putting off their shopping trips and deciding to shop later in the day. This trend has increased foot traffic dramatically. For the three-day period—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—retail destinations experienced a 4.4% increase over the same day last year.
Even with a late start to the day, footfall never dropped off. By 3 PM on December 26, preliminary data from MRI indicated 1.5% fewer visits to high streets. At the same time, footfall at shopping centres decreased by 0.6% year on year. Matthews highlighted that as family gatherings concluded and New Year’s celebrations approached, many consumers felt compelled to take advantage of post-Christmas sales.
According to Matthews, “The boost in activity was driven by a peak in visits across all UK retail destinations from 5 PM to 11 PM, averaging +9.6% versus an average increase of +3.1% from 6 AM to 5 PM.” This evening spike had a key part in ensuring overall footfall exceeded 2019’s levels.
With soaring inflation beginning in 2025, consumers were once again on the ropes, as their household bottom lines were impacted by ever-increasing prices. With many major retailers not reopening until December 28, this sparked a rush among shoppers looking for post-holiday sales and deals. The beauty of this moment In the morning, that reaction was somewhat restrained. As the sales played out, early enthusiasm turned into high-flying enthusiasm, reflecting clear momentum going into the new year for retailers.
Matthews expressed optimism about the retail sector’s performance, stating, “This is an early indicator that the retail sector may well end the year on a positive note given the challenging times faced at the beginning of the year.” She’s optimistic that foot traffic will continue to grow in the days ahead. Consumers are as ready to shop for New Year’s Eve toasts as they are holiday parties.
The MRI analysis finds that hospitality and leisure venues almost certainly benefitted from the new foot traffic. Consumers increasingly looked for experiences as they shopped, bringing even more foot traffic to these retailers. Boxing Day is a big key turning point in an overall retail holiday calendar. If the emerging trends hold, as we hope they will, these retailers are in the best position to pick up demand from cost-conscious consumers.