UK retail footfall fell 2.9% in December due to rising living costs, marking third straight year of decline.

UK retailers saw a disappointing December as rising living costs, especially food and utility bills, led consumers to cut back, causing a 2.9% drop in footfall compared to the previous year. Shopping centres saw the sharpest decline at 5.1%, while retail parks and high streets also fell. This marks the third consecutive year of declining annual footfall, with the "Golden Quarter" down 2.2%. Shoppers delayed spending, making fewer, more targeted trips and shifting purchases to after Christmas, when footfall rose. Despite weak overall traffic, some resilience was seen in off-peak shopping patterns.