Retail tech experts MRI Software released the full day data for Christmas Eve revealing a strong performance for retail with footfall up by +31.1% across all UK retail destinations up until 12pm today, compared to Christmas Eve last year.
Footfall on Christmas Eve remained +18.1% higher in all UK retail destinations this year compared with Christmas Eve last year. Shopping centres continued to lead the charge recording a +26.1% rise followed by high streets (+17.4%). Retail parks also saw an +11% increase. Delving deeper into this, it’s clear to see that much of this boost occurred in the morning; up until midday, footfall was +31.1% higher than the same time period last year. By monitoring footfall 24/7, it was clear to see that towns and cities continued to draw visitors well into the evening with high streets experiencing a +17% uplift year on year, up until 8pm.
Christmas Eve last year fell on a Sunday which bought with it restricted trading hours for retail stores and destinations. The impact of Christmas Eve falling on a weekday this year is clearly evident in the rise in footfall seen which may well have given retail stores and destinations that much needed boost to close out the Golden Quarter which we can only hope continues during the period between Christmas and New Year ahead of what will be a challenging start to 2025.
| 24th December 2024 – Full Day | |||
| Week on Week % change | Year on year % change vs 24th Dec 2023 | % change from 24th 24 vs 24th Dec 2019 | |
| All UK Destinations | 0.7% | 18.1% | -18.6% |
| UK high streets | -3.0% | 17.4% | -21.1% |
| UK retail parks | 1.1% | 11.0% | -8.7% |
| UK Shopping Centres | 7.6% | 26.1% | -23.0% |
| 24th December 2024 – Full Day | |||
| Week on Week % change | Year on year % change vs 24th Dec 2023 | % change from 24th 24 vs 24th Dec 2019 | |
| Back to Office – Central London | -30.6% | 2.6% | -6.2% |
| Central London | -18.6% | -1.4% | -12.6% |
| Coastal Town | 24.2% | 20.2% | -49.8% |
| Historic Town | 20.0% | 7.8% | -11.0% |
| Market Towns | 11.0% | 31.2% | -24.3% |
| Outer London | 8.8% | 18.2% | -20.9% |
| Regional City | -13.2% | 9.7% | -11.8% |
| Regional City Excl London | -12.1% | 31.2% | -14.3% |
| 24th December 2024 – Full Day | |||
| Week on Week % change | Year on year % change vs 24th Dec 2023 | % change from 24th 24 vs 24th Dec 2019 | |
| East | 7.2% | 17.3% | -13.8% |
| East Midlands | 10.6% | 30.9% | -19.7% |
| Greater London | 1.4% | 14.1% | -12.4% |
| North & Yorkshire | 0.6% | 26.3% | -20.9% |
| Scotland | 2.9% | 21.6% | -20.9% |
| South East | 8.1% | 13.0% | -30.7% |
| South West | 10.0% | 28.6% | -5.7% |
| Wales | -6.3% | 42.3% | -27.6% |
| West Midlands | -3.6% | 15.8% | -21.6% |
