EVN / BBCBoxing Day shoppers are staying away from the High Street and shopping centres, compared to last year, early footfall data suggests.
Data gathered by MRI Software shows early morning footfall on UK high streets is down 12.3% on 2023, while shopping centres have seen a 13.9% fall in visitors, before 10:00 GMT.
The provisional figures are an early sign that online shopping continues to dominate the traditional Boxing Day sales.
Although many shops are still expected to see brisk trade on Thursday, major retailers such as John Lewis, M&S and Next have chosen not to open the majority of their stores, saying they wanted to give their staff a break over the festive period.
Overall Boxing Day activity levels are down 10.6% across all UK retail destinations, as at 10:00, compared to 25 December last year.
Analysts have told BBC News that bricks-and-mortar stores are becoming less profitable as they are expensive to keep open due to rising energy costs and, for some, Bank Holiday overtime pay for staff.
Online shops are cheaper to operate and generally have fewer overheads.
MRI Software’s Jenni Matthews said a year-on-year rise in footfall is anticipated from 27 December.
She said that, despite the early data, it was expected that many shoppers would “emerge from their post-Christmas slumber looking to replenish their groceries and see what Boxing Day bargains are available”.
The company will release more footfall data later.
Diane Wehrle, analyst at Rendle Intelligence and Insights, said that amongst those who do choose to visit places on Boxing Day, the emphasis has shifted to spending on things to do, rather than things to buy.
She added that shopping habits have been changing for more than a decade as more consumers choose to shop online.
