Quieter than expected trading for stores on Boxing Day

Retailers saw a quieter than expected start to the post-Christmas sales as footfall declined, according to a snapshot of high street and shopping centre visits across the country.Footfall up to 5pm on Boxing Day was down 4.5% on the same period last year, according to monitoring service Springboard.November's Black Friday event has also been blamed for bringing forward store discounting from the traditional Boxing Day period.