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The slump in the number of people heading to the shops during Boxing Day sales signals a return to declining pre-pandemic levels, an analyst has said. Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. A man carries bags from JD Sports after shopping in the sales in London’s Oxford Street (Jordan Pettitt/PA) People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. A member of staff at Selfridges in London’s Oxford Street prepares for the store’s Boxing Day sale (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Shoppers on Oxford Street, London, during the Boxing Day sales (PA) A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on Saturday. David Rittich made 19 saves for the Kings, who improved to 6-2-1 at home. Kempe and Byfield scored 1:44 apart in the second period. Byfield buried a sharp-angle slap shot on a power play while dropping to a knee. It was his 98th career point in 200 games. Brandon Montour got the Kraken on the board with 1:26 left in the game. He converted a long shot with Joey Daccord off for another skater, but Los Angeles held on. Daccord finished with 19 stops for Seattle. Takeaways Kraken: Jordan Eberle will miss at least three months after undergoing surgery on his pelvis. He had six goals and five assists in 17 games before he got hurt against Chicago on Nov. 14. Kings: The power play had been in a 1-for-16 rut (6.25%) over the previous six games before Byfield found the net. It was the Kings’ lone opportunity with the man-advantage. Key moment After following its 1-0 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday with a fourth straight period of extreme low-event hockey, Los Angeles created a lot more activity and offense to start the second and generate its two goals. Key stat The Kings know how to close out games, improving to 9-0-1 when leading after two periods. Up next The Kraken visit Anaheim on Monday, and the Kings play at San Jose on Monday. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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Montana Girls High School Wrestling Rankings Dec. 26 100: Angelina Escarcega, Poplar; Wai Fandrich, Lockwood; Victoria Tenney, Billings Skyview; Ronelle LaForge, Billings Senior; Ciri Nice, Polson; Emmalyn Miller, Baker; Gracie Bingen, Huntley Project; Trinity Austria, Helena Capital. 105: River Cote, Ronan; Grace Buck, Chinook; Emma Hernandez, Billings Central; Serina Catt, Billings Senior; Kaelynn Vanderpool, Corvallis; Liberty Boadie, Poplar; Danyka Doll, Billings Skyview; Persephone Cox, Frenchtown. 110: Hayley Petersen, Simms; Brooke Yeadon, Kalispell Glacier; Hannah Leonard, Billings Skyview; Dani Larson, Manhattan; Robin Leidholt, Miles City; Evelyn Arciga, Lockwood; Sallee Redding, Hardin; Payton Welch, Shepherd. 115: Bella Downing, Kalispell Flathead; Anola Naugle, Arlee; Ashlyn Sausedo, Hardin; Araeya Nelson, Billings West; Piper Gershmel, Billings Senior; Alara Cooper, Poplar; Taylee Troutman, Billings Skyview; Halle Downey, Whitehall. 120: Kaura Coles, Kalispell Glacier; Shelby Barnett, Baker; Elise McDonald, Billings West; Serenity Hernandez, Billings Skyview; Ananleigh Matejovsky, Wolf Point; Kyra McMahon, Flathead; Rossi Gookin, Lockwood; Charlie Lund, Belgrade. 125: Madalyn Deiter, CMR; Stella Wahl, Cut Bank; Rebel Montanez, Frenchtown; Harley LaBuda, Big Sandy; Gracie Hicks, Lewistown; Kendra Redd, Anaconda; Kylie Schwartz, Baker; Ava Krings, Conrad. 130: Julia Kay, Kalispell Flathead; Taylor Lay, Helena Capital; Emma Klingaman, Harlem; Lucia Schlapfer, Missoula Big Sky; Keenya Gibson, Stevensville; Cadance Weis, Laurel; Trinity Stoner, East Helena; Jaidyn Holdaway, Anaconda. 135: Meadow Mahlmeister, Billings Senior; Etta Wicks, Fort Benton; Kiera Lackey, Kalispell Flathead; Camryn Fiscus, Leiwstown; Sage Machado, Frenchtown; Tierra Hoffer, Billings Skyview; Serena Henry, Conrad; Evie Pella, Miles City. 140: Grayle Fox, Miles City; Faye Holland, Dillon; Lizzy Sherman, Billings Senior; Lucy Armstrong, Conrad; Jocelyn Covington, Corvallis; Haley Wilson, Kalispell Flathead; Madison Lamb, Glasgow; Emerson Eckhart, Billings Senior. 145: Kaitlyn Thorn, Bozeman; Carmelia Horn, Hardin; McKenna Jones, Conrad; Tita Fandrich, Billings Senior; Riley Clampitt, Glasgow; Soraya Shirley, Billings Senior; Gracie Tolman, Billings West; Mattie Stepan, Butte. 155: Hattie Morrow, Missoula Big Sky; Macey Tate, Baker; Kara Jones, Conrad; Haven Ferguson, Billings Skyview; Bridget Smith, Kalispell Flathead; Payton Johnson, Manhattan; Brooke Werth, Shepherd; Leona Dodson-Howe, Ronan. 170: Jayda Harbaugh, Baker; Bryton Kipp, Helena Capita; Hayden Daly, Billings Senior; Abby Zickfoose, Choteau; Ava Hansen, Malta; Lexi Lunceford, Deer Lodge; Ashton Dziekonski, Helena Capital; Jasmyn Werk, Havre. 190: Kylee Lindsley, Belgrade; Katie Slade, Great Falls; Madilyn Juelke, Miles City; Ariana Ellison, Miles City; Isabella Rangel, Belgrade; Abighail Sorrell, Polson; Lauren Krebs, Hardin; Brooklyn Larsen, Billings West. 235 : Tirza TwoTeeth, Ronan; Teaka Mahlmeister, Billings Senior; Grayson DeJong, Miles City; JoJo Manning, Fort Benton; Haven Houle, Ronan; Kendahl Guardipee, Browning; Jess Elings, Cut Bank; Seattle Adams, Ronan. Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
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