Christmas shopping numbers bleak for UK high streets after storm disruption Storm Deirdre’s arrival on Saturday has been a blow to retailers on what should have been a major pre-Christmas shopping day

A combination of bad weather and online shopping has seen high streets across the UK suffer on what is usually one of the busiest weekends leading to Christmas.

Storm Deirdre’s arrival on Saturday was a blow to retailers on what should have been a major pre-Christmas shopping day.

Footfall across UK high streets was down by 9.1 per cent, according to retail intelligence firm Springboard.

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The storm hit one of the last major shopping days before Christmas, causing havoc on the roads and misery for all retailers hoping for a festive sales boost.

‘Choice to shop online’

On what is usually expected to be the peak trading weekend before Christmas, overall footfall for shopping centres and retail parks – combined with high streets – was down 7.3 per cent on Saturday, retail intelligence experts Springboard said.

Diane Wehrle, Springboard marketing and insights director, said: “If people are presented with really terrible weather, they then have the choice to shop online, and they can make other choices about what to do with their time.

“That unfortunately offers them sometimes better alternatives than trailing around a town centre or a high street in freezing cold or rainy weather.”

High Street woes

The news comes as high streets across the country face a raft of pressures including rising business rate bills, the national minimum wage and a weaker pound sterling.

Major retail brands, including Debenhams and Asda, have faced thousands of High Street job losses this year, with automation and reduced hours set to further threaten workers.

In October, Philip Hammond addressed the issue by pledging to cut business rates for smaller retailers and inject millions of pounds into improving local high street infrastructure.

Storm Deirdre moves on

Most of the UK faced an onslaught of severe weather on Saturday with high winds, snow and heavy rain – some of it freezing.

Wind speeds reached up to 73mph, the maximum recorded at Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands.

Meanwhile between 40 to 50cm of snow fell in the central highlands, the Met Office said.

A rare weather phenomenon, freezing rain can lead to the rapid build up of very slippery ice glazes that pose a risk to drivers and pedestrians.

Police forces across the country were left dealing with numerous reports of collisions triggered by icy conditions.

Meanwhile Sunday’s weather has proven to be more favourable to those heading out to shop, with drier spells after Storm Deirdre moves on.