Festive footfall is starting to build as retailers race towards Christmas, according to data from Sensormatic Solutions, the leading global retail solutions portfolio of Johnson Controls.
Its ShopperTrak Analytics data, which captures 40billion store visits globally each year, showed that footfall rose +4.4% over the weekend (Sat 13 & Sun 14 Dec 2025) compared to the weekend before.
Shopper counts across last week also increased steadily, rising +3.6% on the week before (01 – 07 Dec 2025 vs 08 – 14 Dec 2025).
However, footfall across Saturday and Sunday remained lower than 2024, falling -5.7% and -5.4% year-on-year respectively.
UK shoppers were expected to have made 20.6million transactions over Friday and Saturday last week (12 & 13 Dec 2025), according to separate figures from Nationwide – +6.39% higher than 2024. While footfall rose +3.5% week-on-week on Saturday (13 Dec 2025), Sunday (14 Dec 2025) was the top performing day for store visits across the weekend, with shopper counts jumping +5.7% on the week prior and High Streets seeing the biggest boost (+12%).
“After a mixed start to Peak Trading and concerns that consumer caution could dampen consumers’ Christmas spirits, retailers will have welcomed the tempered but steady build in festive footfall last week,” said Andy Sumpter, EMEA Retail Consultant at Sensormatic Solutions. “However, retailers won’t be taking anything for granted. With under ten days to go before the Big Day, they’ll be doubling down on driving store traffic and capturing seasonal spend as we race towards what’s set to be the busiest day for in-store Christmas shopping: Super Saturday.”
Super Saturday (20 Dec 2025) is expected to be the busiest day for store footfall of the entire Peak Trading season, according to Sensormatic’s predictions. This year, consumers are expected to make 10.7million transactions on Super Saturday as they rush to finish their Christmas shopping.
Historical data from the ShopperTrak Analytics platform spanning 2021 – 2024 also showed that for three of the last four years, Super Saturday has been the peak busiest day for store visits. Last year on Super Saturday, footfall jumped +4.1% week-on-week – an improvement of +0.8% year-on-year – as shoppers scrambled to pick up last-minute gifts, spurred on by some retailers bringing forward Boxing Day discounts to drive up pre-Christmas demand.
“All eyes now turn to Super Saturday, undoubtedly one of the highest-stakes shopping days of the Christmas season,” Sumpter added. “And, while a single day can’t carry the entire trading period, retailers will be hoping that early momentum continues to build towards the Christmas crescendo.”
