Post-Christmas footfall is anticipated to experience a year-on-year uplift from today (27 December), following a slow start as shoppers seek to replenish their groceries and search for Boxing Day bargains, according to new figures.

New data from retail tech experts MRI Software has predicted that with many leading grocers, such as Waitrose, M&S and Aldi, choosing to stay shut over Boxing Day, retailers will only now begin to see an increase in shoppers from 27 December.

The news follows data revealing that retail footfall figures for Boxing Day 2024 fell 7.6% across all UK retail destinations, compared to last year’s rise of 3.7%.

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Most significantly hit were UK high streets, which faced a 9.6% decrease in shopper numbers, followed by 6.1% for retail parks and 5.1% for shopping centres.

The decline in Boxing Day activity is understood to reflect a wider shift in consumer behaviour, influenced by factors such as the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and consumers concentrating their spending on a pre-Christmas rush.

Online shopping is also thought to have reshaped shoppers spending habits, with many retailers kicking off their Boxing Day sales online, while their brick and mortar stores remain shut for the day.

Last month, data from British Retail Consortium (BRC)-KPMG retail sales monitor indicated a pre-Christmas rush as figures showed that food sales edged up 2.4% in the three months to November as more shoppers planned to increase spending before Christmas.