IT was supposed to be one of the busiest shopping days of the year as consumers spent £1.5m a minute across the UK.
But in Huddersfield yesterday afternoon, after a brief surge in the morning large parts of the town centre resembled more of a ghost town as shoppers shunned the high street for the warmth of indoor malls.
While the Kingsgate Centre bustled with last-minute shoppers the majority of the shops on King Street, New Street and Market Street were noticeably quieter than normal.
Meltham woman, Lisa Clay, who was out shopping with her friend, said she thought there weren’t enough appealing shops in Huddersfield town centre to draw customers in.
She said: “It’s pretty quiet today I’d say.
“The Kingsgate Centre is busier than normal but the high street is not busy at all.
“I think a lot of people go to Meadowhall, White Rose or the Trafford Centre.
“Huddersfield’s not got a great deal of choice.”
A shop manager at New Street toy shop the Early Learning Centre said she had noticed a dip in trade as people struggled to afford expensive Christmas gifts.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s definitely quieter than last year.
“We started our sale earlier than ever and people are definitely spending less.”
Car parks around the town centre were largely empty on Saturday and Sunday but over at the Kingsgate Centre motorists queued for access to the more modern facility.
Kevin Davis, area manager for F Hinds jewellers, said it was hard to compare this year with last year due to the heavy snow of 2010.
But he said: “People are spending less – they’ve definitely cut back, but on balance we’re about the same as last year.
“At the end of the day people still want to treat their friends and family, but the average spend is probably less.”
Mr Davis said watches had been a popular item this year, but said he didn’t subscribe to the theory that shoppers were leaving it later this year in the hope that stores would start their sales early.
He added: “Every year it’s a game of chicken between the retailer and the consumer but I don’t think people are leaving it any later than usual.”
