Here they come- UK shoppers start spending
Traffic Index shows December uplift
December 9 2003
The first week in December saw UK shoppers start their Christmas campaign in earnest according to the latest Retail Traffic Index figures.
The index, produced by shopper traffic analyst SPSL, shows hectic shopping activity in the first week of December.
In the week starting November 30, shopper numbers were 2.2 per cent greater than in the same week in 2002 and 7 per cent up on the previous week.
The rise builds on the previous week’s 13.3 per cent week-on-week and 1.5 per cent year-on-year increase.
Following a slow start to November there has been concerns that large numbers of UK shoppers were holding out for the prospect of last-minute discounts.
Retail psychologist Dr Tim Denison, director of knowledge management at SPSL said: “After three disappointing weeks in November, shoppers have, over the last fortnight, committed themselves to busy Christmas shopping.
“There are probably three factors at play. Some shoppers have spent time searching the Internet creating ‘wish lists’ and are now ready to spend in the stores, others seem to be responding to the deep price-cut promotions that many retailers have introduced after sluggish early trading and finally the weather is turning more seasonal. At last it feels like Christmas!”
