Boxing Day footfall was up by more than a third on the UK’s high streets, despite train strikes and the cost-of-living crisis.

Concerns had been raised that strikes and tightening budgets could scare consumers away from shopping destinations on the first day of the sales.

But industry analyst Springboard said data from Boxing Day showed footfall was 38.8 per cent higher than last year.

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There were increases across all three key retail destination types, compared with the same period in 2021.

On high streets it was up by 44.1 per cent, in shopping centres by 40.4 per cent, and in retail parks by 25.9 per cent.

The Westgate car park has been full most days during the Christmas period, with traffic queuing in both directions on Oxpens Road.

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The Covered Market was busy in the run-up to Christmas but much quieter the following week.

Oxford Mail:

Diane Wehrle, insights director at retail analysts Springboard, said a likely factor in the increase was that Boxing Day 2021 fell on a Sunday rather than a weekday, but added that the latest figures showed that the morning was particularly busy this year.

“Over the 24 hours of Boxing Day footfall was up from 2021 by about 39 per cent,” she said.

“So a slightly smaller increase than the period up to 12pm, but it was in line with our expectations. We did expect the uplift to turn off slightly towards the end of the day. That is exactly what happened.

Oxford Mail:

“It demonstrates that the morning of Boxing Day this year was much busier than the morning of Boxing Day last year.”

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Up to noon footfall was up by 59.4 per cent on high streets, 46.6 per cent in shopping centres, and 33.7 per cent in retail parks.

Ms Wehrle added: “Footfall has undoubtedly been helped by the calm and sunny weather, which will have encouraged consumers to make trips out.

"These results provide real reason for optimism among retailers, as they coincided with another rail strike and the underlying challenge of the cost of living crisis.”

Clothing retailers had been expected to offer big discounts, as stocks built up during a warm autumn, but most, including Next, Marks & Spencer, New Look and River Island, offered less than 60 per cent off as it appeared the recent cold snap had helped clear coats and knitwear.

The online specialists Asos and Boohoo, however, which have had more competition from high streets, were offering up to 80 per cent and 70 per cent off respectively.

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Last December, Covid rules are thought to have impacted shoppers, with restrictions in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, including wearing masks in all shops and limiting indoor group sizes to six.

Oxford Mail:

London’s West End performed particularly strongly this year, with footfall up 65 per cent compared with last Boxing Day.

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF