There were fewer shoppers on Oxford Street in London this year HENRY NICHOLLS/REUTERSMiserable weather put off the bargain hunters yesterday and gave high streets and shopping centres their worst Boxing Day in a decade. Turnout was far worse than expected with the number of shoppers down by 10.6 per cent as post-Christmas sales failed to draw in the crowds, according to Springboard, a retail expert. It was the largest year-on-year decline since it started publishing the figures in 2009. Diane Wehrle, of Springboard, said that the crowds might have been bigger after it had taken its snapshot at noon, but the final numbers would still be well down on last year. The Bullring and Grand Central in Birmingham was also quieter than in previous years SWNSA fall of 1.5 per cent had been expected but the combination of heavy rain and this year’s late Black Friday sales on November 29 persuaded…

Source: The Times December 27, 2019 00:00 UTC