New data reveals the UK retail sector finished 2025 on a surprisingly strong note, with shopper numbers in December recording their most significant annual increase for the festive month in over a decade.
Festive Figures Show Sustained Recovery
According to retail technology specialist MRI Software, overall footfall across UK retail destinations rose by 1.3% in December 2025 compared to the same month the previous year. This marks the largest annual uplift for December since 2011, signalling a robust end to the year for bricks-and-mortar stores.
Evening Economy and Experience-Led Trips Drive Growth
The analysis pinpoints a clear shift in consumer behaviour as the catalyst for growth. A sharp increase in evening and night-time visits was a major contributor, with footfall after 5pm jumping by an impressive +5.3% year-on-year.
MRI Software explains that this trend reflects shoppers increasingly combining retail trips with dining, leisure activities, and socialising. This focus on experience was further evidenced by the performance of different location types:
- High streets led the annual growth with a +2.0% increase in visitor numbers.
- Retail parks followed with a +1.2% rise.
- Shopping centres saw a more modest gain of +0.1%.
Boxing Day Emerges as Social Shopping Highlight
Boxing Day stood out as the standout trading day of the period, recording its strongest performance in ten years. Across all retail destinations, footfall on 26 December soared by +4.4% compared to Boxing Day 2024.
The evening social trend was even more pronounced on this day, with visits after 5pm surging by almost +10%. This data underlines a fundamental shift in post-Christmas trading, moving away from purely transactional bargain hunting towards a more social and experiential activity.
Implications for the Retail Sector
The findings from MRI Software suggest that the UK high street is adapting to new consumer demands. The success of locations that offer a broader mix of retail, hospitality, and leisure indicates a future where physical destinations compete on experience as much as on price.
The strong December performance, particularly the record-breaking Boxing Day, provides a positive foundation for the retail sector as it moves into the new year, demonstrating the enduring appeal of in-person shopping when coupled with a compelling social offer.
