SHOPPERS cram together in London’s Carnaby Street this weekend — defying predictions of retail festive gloom.
And drivers were turned away from Bluewater in Kent and there were long queues at Newcastle’s Metrocentre.
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High streets saw an 18 per cent rise in customers on last year, which was disrupted by Covid. Shopping centres had a 1.9 per cent jump in a week, up 7.1 per cent from 2021.
Diane Wehrle, of retail monitor Springboard, said the figures were “reasons for optimism for retail trading in the run-up to Christmas”.
It comes after businesses facing spiralling costs and declining spending were warned of a bleak winter ahead.
Brian Brick, boss of Moss Bros, said: “With all the doom and gloom around, it’s not bad.
“Some people are trading well but some are struggling and you’re seeing that with the amount of promotions and discounts.
“There’s events to get dressed up for again which is helping the fashion business.
“Christmas always happens and people spend. It’s what happens on the other side when all the bills come in which is the concern.”
Many England fans were spotted getting their Xmas presents in early so they were back home in time for the World Cup clash with Senegal.
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James Daunt, chief executive of Waterstones, said: “Shoppers are either defying the gloom or wanting to get their shopping done before the England game.”
