UK shops see surge as sales begin

British shopper footfall surged as much as 9 per cent over the weekend, signalling an upturn in crucial Christmas trade for high street retailers after days of falling consumer traffic.

The Retail FootFall Index released today showed shopper traffic rose 3.8 per cent on Saturday and 8.9 per cent yesterday as some retailers began discounting their stocks.

The figures are an about-turn on last week when data showed the traditional Christmas build up on the high street had gone into reverse with shopper numbers plummeting by the day.

Shares in some of Britain's biggest retailers plunged today amid fears of poor Christmas trading. Debenhams lost 8.6 per cent, while Next fell 4.8 per cent.

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