Despite a late shopping rush, early figures suggest it has been a disappointing run-up to Christmas for High Street retailers. However, the start of the sales on Boxing Day may yet bring some seasonal cheer.
According to market analyst Footfall, the number of people at shopping centres in the week before Christmas was 7% lower than last year. Analysts blamed the fall in shopping and spending on the uncertain economic climate and the prospect of a war with Iraq.
Other market watchers suggested that shoppers had simply wised up to the retailers' tactics and were waiting for the sales before buying.
David Smyth, Footfall's marketing manager said: "Retailers had been waiting for a last-minute shopping splurge but the Footfall Index figures indicate that their Christmas wish did not come true."
Footfall said its research suggested the pre-Christmas week in 2002 was the worst for three years. On Christmas Eve shopper umbers were 11% down on last year, it said.
However, Christmas Eve and the Monday before Christmas had been "surprisingly good days" according to some of the bigger shopping complexes, as shoppers left it late.
At Bluewater in Kent, 140,000 people went through the doors on Monday, while 142,000 went to Gateshead's MetroCentre and 130,000 to Manchester's Trafford Centre.
The supermarkets also appeared to be enjoying booming sales for the holiday. Tesco said: "We've been busier than ever."
The start of the sales also appeared to bring good news for the major retail centres. The Trafford Centre reported it was heading for its best Boxing Day ever. It said it expected visitor numbers between 110,000 and 120,000 for the day against 102,000 last year. Bluewater and Meadowhall, Sheffield, also reported busy days.
Footfall confirmed a Boxing Day boost with shopper numbers 8.6% up on last year.
The knock-on effect on retail-based restaurants and fast food sites is yet to be gauged.
The British Retail Consortium's latest report showed a fall in consumer confidence to 20 December, which the BRC described as a "disappointing result" so far into the traditional Christmas spending season.
Research group Martin Hamblin Gfk published its consumer confidence report earlier this week, suggesting that 45% of those surveyed expected the economic situation to get worse in the next 12 months.
According to market analyst Footfall, the number of people at shopping centres in the week before Christmas was 7% lower than last year. Analysts blamed the fall in shopping and spending on the uncertain economic climate and the prospect of a war with Iraq.
Other market watchers suggested that shoppers had simply wised up to the retailers' tactics and were waiting for the sales before buying.
David Smyth, Footfall's marketing manager said: "Retailers had been waiting for a last-minute shopping splurge but the Footfall Index figures indicate that their Christmas wish did not come true."
Footfall said its research suggested the pre-Christmas week in 2002 was the worst for three years. On Christmas Eve shopper umbers were 11% down on last year, it said.
However, Christmas Eve and the Monday before Christmas had been "surprisingly good days" according to some of the bigger shopping complexes, as shoppers left it late.
At Bluewater in Kent, 140,000 people went through the doors on Monday, while 142,000 went to Gateshead's MetroCentre and 130,000 to Manchester's Trafford Centre.
The supermarkets also appeared to be enjoying booming sales for the holiday. Tesco said: "We've been busier than ever."
The start of the sales also appeared to bring good news for the major retail centres. The Trafford Centre reported it was heading for its best Boxing Day ever. It said it expected visitor numbers between 110,000 and 120,000 for the day against 102,000 last year. Bluewater and Meadowhall, Sheffield, also reported busy days.
Footfall confirmed a Boxing Day boost with shopper numbers 8.6% up on last year.
The knock-on effect on retail-based restaurants and fast food sites is yet to be gauged.
The British Retail Consortium's latest report showed a fall in consumer confidence to 20 December, which the BRC described as a "disappointing result" so far into the traditional Christmas spending season.
Research group Martin Hamblin Gfk published its consumer confidence report earlier this week, suggesting that 45% of those surveyed expected the economic situation to get worse in the next 12 months.
