MRI: Festive Momentum Builds Across All UK Retail Destinations

The week before Christmas saw festive momentum build across UK retail destinations. Retail parks and shopping centres recorded strong week-on-week growth (+7.3% and +5.4%), suggesting shoppers entering the final phase of Christmas preparations, though footfall remained below last year’s levels (-2.7% and -4.5%). 

High streets lagged behind, with footfall down 2% week on week and 2.1% year on year. This was largely driven by Thursday, when visits fell sharply amid heavy rainfall, highlighting the sector’s continued vulnerability to poor weather. 

Despite this, the overall picture was positive. Tuesday and Friday stood out, with footfall up 12.6% and 11.6% across all retail destinations. Super Saturday was particularly strong for high streets, with footfall rising 5.6% year on year, likely boosted by festive markets and events. Retail parks and shopping centres saw modest declines, which may prove temporary ahead of the final pre-Christmas rush. 

Jenni Matthews, Data Analyst at MRI Software, has provided insights and commentary below.

Week 51 – SUN-SAT (14th – 20th December)

The week before Christmas saw signs of festive momentum building across UK retail destinations. Retail parks and shopping centres both recorded strong week on week growth, rising by +7.3% and +5.4%, respectively, suggesting shoppers entering the final stretch of their Christmas preparations. However, with many consumers still in work mode, annual footfall remained below last year’s levels, down 2.7% for retail parks and 4.5% for shopping centres. 

High streets told a different story with footfall slipping by 2% compared with the previous week and remained 2.1% lower year on year. Much of this decline can be traced to Thursday, when visits dropped sharply by -18.8% week on week and -19.1% year on year, amid heavy rainfall across large parts of the UK, highlighting just how vulnerable high streets remain to poor weather conditions.

Despite this, the overall picture for the week was encouraging. Tuesday and Friday emerged as standout days, with footfall rising by 12.6% and 11.6% respectively across all UK retail destinations. This suggests a growing momentum as shoppers begin to focus their visits in the run-up to Christmas. Super Saturday was particularly positive for high streets, which saw footfall climb 5.6% compared with the same day last year, likely boosted by festive markets and seasonal events drawing people into town centres. Retail parks (-2.6%) and shopping centres (-3.4%), meanwhile, recorded modest declines on the day, which may prove to be a brief lull ahead of the traditionally busy final three days before Christmas. 

Market towns outperformed all town types recording a +5.9% uplift week on week which could reflect the many events taking place that are key in driving footfall over this busy period. This contrasts with office dense locations in Central London’s which recorded a -7.1% decline week on week but a +4.7% lift from the same week last year indicating that Christmas socialising and post-work gatherings continue to support activity in towns and cities even as formal office attendance starts to taper off. 

As the final trading days before Christmas unfold, retailers can expect a sharp uplift in activity. With shopper momentum clearly gathering, this last push will be crucial in determining how positively the retail sector closes out the year. 

Week 51 – MON-SUN (15th – 21st December)

The week before Christmas saw signs of festive momentum building across all UK retail destinations with footfall up by +8.3% week on week. Shopping centres led the charge with a +5.6% uplift followed by high streets (+4.6%) and retail parks (+4.1%), suggesting shoppers entering the final stretch of their Christmas preparations. However, with many consumers still in work mode, annual footfall remained -4.3% below last year’s levels. 

High streets saw footfall slip by -5.6% compared with last year and remained, with much of this decline being traced back to Thursday, when visits dropped sharply by -19.1% year on year, amid heavy rainfall across large parts of the UK, highlighting just how vulnerable high streets remain to poor weather conditions. 

Despite this, the overall picture for the week was encouraging. Tuesday and Friday emerged as standout days, with footfall rising by 12.6% and 11.6% respectively across all UK retail destinations. This suggests a growing momentum as shoppers begin to focus their visits in the run-up to Christmas. Super Saturday was particularly positive for high streets, which saw footfall climb 5.6% compared with the same day last year, likely boosted by festive markets and seasonal events drawing people into town centres. Retail parks (-2.6%) and shopping centres (-3.4%), meanwhile, recorded modest declines on the day, which may prove to be a brief lull ahead of the traditionally busy final three days before Christmas. 

Market towns outperformed all town types recording a +4.9% uplift week on week which could reflect the many events taking place that are key in driving footfall over this busy period. This contrasts with office dense locations in Central London’s which recorded a -9.3% suggesting that office attendance is starting to taper off. 

As the final trading days before Christmas unfold, retailers can expect a sharp uplift in activity. With shopper momentum clearly gathering, this last push will be crucial in determining how positively the retail sector closes out the year.

Source : MRI Software

Image : Smileus / iStock / 624124526

For all the very latest news and intelligence on the UK's largest home improvement and garden retailers, sign up for the Insight DIY weekly newsletter.