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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Sarah Butler

‘Drab December’ caps another year of declining footfall on UK high street

A shopper holding a sale bag
Inclement weather over the festive period is thought to have played a part in the fall. Photograph: Martin Pope/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock

High streets and other shopping destinations have had a “drab December”, ending another year of falling visitor numbers and raising fears of disappointing sales in the most important month for retailers.

Attendance at UK shopping centres, retail parks and high streets was down 2.2% in December compared with the same period in 2023, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and analysts at Sensormatic. The decrease was led by a 3.3% decline at shopping centres.

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