New data reveals the UK's retail sector finished 2025 on a surprisingly robust note, with shopper numbers in December recording their most significant annual increase for the festive month in over a decade.
Festive Surge Driven by Evening and Social Visits
According to retail technology specialist MRI Software, overall footfall at UK retail destinations rose by 1.3% year-on-year in December 2025. This marks the most substantial annual uplift recorded for the month since 2011, defying earlier cautious predictions for the sector.
The analysis pinpoints a dramatic shift in consumer behaviour as the key driver. The festive boost was fuelled by a sharp +5.3% increase in visits after 5pm. MRI explains that shoppers are increasingly combining retail trips with dining, leisure activities, and socialising, moving away from purely transactional errands.
High Streets Lead the Way in Annual Growth
Breaking down the performance by location type reveals a clear leader. Traditional high streets saw footfall grow by 2.0% compared to the previous December, outperforming all other destinations. This was followed by retail parks, which posted a solid 1.2% increase. Shopping centres experienced more modest growth of 0.1%.
This pattern reinforces the growing importance of experience-led trips, where the environment and ancillary offerings of high streets play a crucial role in attracting visitors.
Boxing Day Emerges as a Decade-High Standout
The post-Christmas trading period provided a major highlight. Boxing Day emerged as the standout trading day of the season, delivering its strongest footfall performance in ten years.
On 26 December, visitor numbers across all retail destinations jumped by +4.4% year-on-year. The trend towards evening socialising was even more pronounced, with evening visits on Boxing Day soaring by almost 10%. This underscores a fundamental shift in how the post-Christmas period is viewed, transforming from a day of pure sales shopping to a key date for social and experiential activity.
MRI Software's report concludes that the UK retail landscape is successfully adapting, with destinations that offer a broader leisure experience reaping the benefits of changing consumer habits during the crucial festive trading window.
