LET'S HAVE SOME FUN

Bit of a roller-coaster they say!!!!!

UPDATE 1-UK shoppers out in force over New Year -survey
Tue Jan 3, 2006 5:49 PM GMT

(Adds rival research firm comments in paras 6-9, 12, 13)

LONDON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Bargain-hunters returned to UK shops over the New Year weekend, making it a rollercoaster ride for British retailers in the first week of traditional cut-price sales, business information group Footfall said on Tuesday.

In its latest survey of shopper numbers, Footfall said the number of visitors to major retail centres climbed by 6.6 percent over the New Year holiday weekend (Dec. 31 to Jan. 2) compared with the equivalent period last year.

That followed a swing down in shopper numbers in the first five days after Christmas.

Shopper numbers jumped by 8 percent in the two days of Dec. 26 and Dec. 27, and then momentum subsequently slumped to show a fall of 12.4 percent for the five days of Dec. 26 to Dec. 31.

"Today, the majority of people have returned to work, as well as most schools re-opening mid-week, so we should now see figures returning to normal levels," Footfall Marketing Manager Natasha Burton said in a statement.

Data from rival research institute SPSL showed a similar pattern. Following a jump of 17.3 percent in shopper numbers on Dec. 26, the figures slipped by 3.1 and 2.9 percent respectively over the next two days before dropping markedly thereafter.

SPSL said in a statement that footfall -- the number of people out on high streets and in shopping centres -- fell by 7.8 percent in the first week of sales versus last year.

The research firm said, however, that December was a busier shopping month on the whole than many retailers might have hoped for. Shopper numbers slipped just 0.1 percent versus December 2004 and were up 31.2 percent compared with November 2005.

"After a sluggish first fortnight in the month, shoppers came out in full festive force thereafter ... These flat figures are stronger than we had been expecting," said SPSL Director Tim Denison in the statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, chocolate retailer Thorntons Plc (THT.L: Quote, Profile, Research) said in its Christmas trading update that the retail climate remained challenging.

Fashion chain Next Plc (NXT.L: Quote, Profile, Research) kicks off the release of key Christmas trading updates from retail companies on Wednesday.

Interest is already turning to the general outlook for 2006.

"The greatest retail challenges this year are likely to be faced by those selling high-ticket household items, where shoppers will be most vigilant in seeking out the best bargains or else in delaying their purchases and making do," SPSL's Denison added.