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This Christmas seems to have been “disastrous” for retailers as households battle with ongoing cost-of-living pressures, figures recommend.
Retail footfall was 11.4% down on final 12 months over the ultimate full week earlier than Christmas, in keeping with Rendle Intelligence and Insights.
Even on Tremendous Saturday – the ultimate Saturday earlier than Christmas Day and sometimes the height buying day of the 12 months – footfall was simply 4.1% increased than the earlier Saturday, and solely 0.9% increased than the identical Saturday a 12 months earlier.
Black Friday footfall was 5.5% increased than final 12 months, suggesting customers took the chance to purchase discounted items then, the figures point out.
Diane Wehrle, chief govt of Rendle Intelligence and Insights, stated: “The disappointing outcomes, which come on the identical day that we’ve learnt that the financial system didn’t develop between July and September, clearly replicate the continued value pressures confronted by households following a protracted interval of very excessive inflation.
“It seems this Christmas has been disastrous for retail, and a nasty omen for 2025.”
Sensormatic Options stated its figures confirmed a 0.8% year-on-year rise in Tremendous Saturday footfall, boosted by early discounting.
In the meantime, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) warned of a January spending squeeze on the horizon.
BRC-Opinium figures recommend public confidence within the state of the financial system nosedived in December, falling eight factors to minus 27.
The general public’s spending intentions – each in retail and past – dropped six factors, with expectations of spending in practically each retail class falling.
BRC chief govt Helen Dickinson warned retailers might discover themselves going through a New 12 months spending squeeze simply as they unveil their January gross sales.
Ms Dickinson stated: “The weak spending intentions might pave the best way for a difficult 12 months for retailers, who face being buffeted by low shopper demand and £7 billion of recent prices from the Price range set to hit the business in 2025.
“With gross sales development unable to maintain tempo, retailers can have no alternative however to lift costs or reduce prices – closing shops and freezing recruitment.”
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The Impartial
#Christmas #disastrous #retailers #households #battle #ongoing #value #pressures
Josie Clarke , 2024-12-23 10:59:00