Fewer shoppers ventured onto Britain’s high streets on Boxing Day this year, with early data showing a drop in footfall at traditional retail destinations even as major sales promotions drew online interest and out-of-town retail parks saw increased activity.

Monitoring company figures indicate overall visits to high streets and shopping centres slipped compared with last year, with central London recording a particularly marked decline while retail parks and some coastal and outer London locations registered stronger traffic.

Retailers had pinned hopes on Boxing Day helping to salvage year-end trading after a subdued pre-Christmas period, but prevailing cost-of-living concerns and broader shifts in how consumers seek bargains appear to have dampened turnout in city centre areas.

Many large brands launched discounts online on Christmas Day itself, offering up to half-price reductions that allowed shoppers to secure deals from home, further reducing the incentive to visit physical stores on the bank holiday.

Some merchants also staggered in-store offers, with deeper reductions only appearing later in the weekend, influencing the timing of shopper visits.

Despite the weaker high-street performance, projections suggest average individual spending may rise slightly compared with last year as consumers concentrate their budgets on essentials and selected deals, though total participation in the post-Christmas sales is expected to be lower.

Retailers and analysts point to the enduring impact of digital shopping trends, the proliferation of early promotions and ongoing economic pressures as key drivers behind the evolving shape of the Boxing Day sales event.

The pattern reflects a continued rebalancing of British retail, as foot traffic shifts away from tightly defined seasonal peaks toward more diffuse and digitally enabled purchasing behaviour.