UK shoppers down for third consecutive year on Boxing Day
The number of shoppers in Britain visiting stores on the day after Christmas fell again this year, data showed, underscoring how what was once a key date for retailers has been supplanted by Black Friday
Footfall on Dec. 26, known in Britain as Boxing Day, was down by an annual 3.1 percent, the third year in a row to show a decline, market research firm Springboard said. Compared with Black Friday, which fell on Nov. 29, footfall was down 10.7 percent, Springboard said as it updated preliminary figures first published on Wednesday. Many retailers had a tough 2018 when they were forced into heavy discounts to compete with online shopping and to win over consumers whose earnings, when adjusted for inflation, are lower than they were a decade ago.
The retail sector is also facing uncertainty over Britain’s exit from the European Union, higher labour costs and an increase in business property taxes.
Published: by Radio NewsHub