Retailers are bracing for disappointing Boxing Day sales when the numbers are finally totted up.
Next, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis didn’t even bother opening up, rather leaving it until today to start their post-Christmas sales.
According to reports this morning, that looked a sensible move, with analysis from MRI Software suggesting footfall across the country was down by 22%.
Central London was the exception due to the number of tourists in the capital, said The New West End Company,
Dee Corsi, chief executive, said even though London is doing relatively well, the government cannot ignore it is overseas shoppers doing the buying and that the cost-of-living crisis is squeezing domestic spending and dampening consumer confidence.
“It is imperative that the government heeds calls for an independent review of tax-free shopping to put us back on a level playing field with Continental Europe,” she said.
Consumers were forecast to spend £3.7 billion on Boxing Day, around 3% down on last year, according to the VoucherCodes website.
Another problem for City centres is the soaring cost of parking, according to The Works chief executive Gavin Peck.
Shops like his faced “just one thing after another”, he told the Telegraph, with rising parking adding to problems caused by more people shopping online, high business rates and rail and other transport strikes.