Shopper numbers rise on Christmas demand

Christmas demand drove a 19.5 per cent rise in shopper numbers across British retail destinations in the week to 12 December compared with the previous week, though numbers remain substantially below last year, market researcher Springboard said on Monday.

In the second week following the reopening of non-essential retail stores in England after a four-week COVID-19 lockdown, week-on-week footfall across Britain was up 26.3 per cent in shopping centres, 21.1 per cent in high streets and 9 per cent in retail parks, it said.

"The uplift was smaller than in the first week, but it was still significantly greater than in the second week following the reopening of retail in June (after a first national lockdown), indicating the desire of shoppers to visit bricks and mortar stores in the run up to Christmas," said Springboard director Diane Wehrle.

Despite increases over the past two weeks, footfall remains well down on last year - down 29.9 per cent across all retail destinations.