Retailers will continue to slash prices in 2009 in a bid to keep the high street buoyant.
The huge crowds that gathered for pre- and post-Christmas sales made the high street look healthy but shoppers have spent cautiously, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), and the last-minute boost will not compensate for a bleak period for retailers.
Richard Dodd from the BRC said: "It's been a very busy few days - many of the sales started earlier this year than they have done before. We have seen sustained interest since Boxing Day.
"It's good news that lots of shoppers are out there, and that the sales and promotions that retailers are using are creating valid interest. But it will still prove to be the case when the figures are in that as a whole it has been a poor December."
As shoppers continue to worry about worsening economic conditions, retailers will be forced to continue to slash prices, Mr Dodd said.
He added: "People are going to go on being worried about the housing market and about jobs and personal finances. They will be reluctant to spend so retailers will have to go on reducing prices substantially."
Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow said that trading had been brisk in the run-up to Christmas and that sales would continue well into January.
Hamish Millar, general manager for the shopping centre, said: "Despite current market conditions, the centre has performed well and we expect this to continue well into January as the sales continue."
There was disappointment yesterday for those given Zavvi gift vouchers for Christmas, as the retailer's administrator said they will not be able to use them in stores.
Shoppers hoping to spend their vouchers on the cut-price books, CDs and DVDs in Zavvi's "Clearout" sale have been told their vouchers are worthless in store.
A message on the Zavvi website urged holders of vouchers purchased after November 27 to write to the joint administrators, and says it is "expected" they will receive a full refund.
However, those who bought vouchers before this date will have to register an unsecured claim, where there is a slimmer chance of a refund.
Zavvi's 125 stores opened as normal on Boxing Day for the post-Christmas sales. However, the jobs of more than 3400 workers remain insecure.
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