Festive trading eases while year shows resilience
Sheffield BID’s latest Barometer report reveals that city centre businesses demonstrated resilience throughout 2025, despite a slight dip in festive trading compared to the previous year.
Key highlights:
- Annual performance: Total sales for 2025 reached £226 million, just 0.7% lower than 2024, indicating a steady year overall.
- ‘Golden Quarter’ impact: October–December delivered £64.1 million, accounting for over 28% of annual sales, though down 2.8% year-on-year.
- December snapshot: Sales hit £24.8 million, down 4.1% from December 2024, driven by a 3% drop in average revenue per customer and a 1.2% decline in customer transactions.
- Sector trends: Food & Drink led December spending at £9.9 million, while Transport saw strong growth (+18.7%).
- Regional comparison: Sheffield’s festive decline of -4.1% was significantly milder than Leeds (-8.2%) and Nottingham (-9.0%), and close to the GB benchmark (-3.6%). Year-to-date, Sheffield’s -0.7% dip compares favourably to Leeds (-6.5%) and Nottingham (-5.4%).
- Customer profile: Local shoppers dominated December (68%), but Sheffield continued to attract visitors nationwide, reinforcing its position as a destination city.
Diane Jarvis, Chief Executive Officer:
“Sheffield’s city centre held its ground during the crucial Christmas trading period, outperforming Leeds and Nottingham and staying close to the national benchmark. While festive sales dipped slightly, the overall year was steady, proving the strength and resilience of our local businesses.
"In 2026, we’ll build on this resilience with targeted support for key sectors and initiatives to attract more visitors, ensuring Sheffield remains a vibrant destination.”
