Trend Report – December
December Sales Performance
Birmingham 4.3 % National 4.2%
December Footfall
Birmingham - 0.8 % National - 2.8%
Events
- Frankfurt Christmas Market and Birmingham’s Christmas Craft Fair attracted 3 million visitors this Christmas, with over 500 coaches from all over the country.
- Brilliantly Birmingham 2009 Tenth Anniversary – until 28 February 2010 – Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery’s Industrial Gallery, a retrospective exhibition of past profiled Brilliantly Birmingham designer makers, who have with the city over the past 10 years. A collaboration between Brilliantly Birmingham and Chord Developments which will see new work being commissioned especially for developments in the Jewellery Quarter, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Brilliantly Birmingham.
- The Birmingham Mail Wheel – until end of February 2010, Centenary Square – the 60m observation wheel offers stunning bird’s eye views of the city from its fully enclosed and heated carriages.
- Birmingham City Centre Farmers Market – the market operates on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month between 9am to 4pm. The market is located in New Street, between Victoria Square and Bennett’s Hill.
- British Open Show Jumping Championship – 12th Jan to 22 Feb – A sculpture will be located in Centenary Square next to the Wheel of Birmingham to promote the show that takes place at the NEC.
- NEC – National Fine Art & Antiques Fair 20-24 Jan
- NEC – Boat and Caravan Show 23-28 Feb
- NIA – BBL Cup Final 17 Jan
- NIA – The Birmingham Games 6-7 Feb
- NIA – Athletics Training 2010 8,9,11,12,15 Feb
- NIA – Midland Championships – 13-14 Feb
- NIA – Aviva Grand Prix 20 Feb
- NIA – MCAA Open Meeting 21 Feb
- LG Arena – Strictly Come Dancing Live 21 – 24 Jan
- LG Arena – Rammstein 3 Feb
- LG Arena – JLS 5 Feb
- LG Arena – The X Factor Live 17-19 Feb
Marketing
- 2010/2011 Marketing and Events planning underway
Trading stance
All retailers in sale
Crime
Despite the huge number of visitors to Birmingham’s main retail areas, crime continued to fall in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Total crime recorded for December in the city centre area dropped to 972 offences – that’s a 37 per cent reduction on the same month in 2003.
The major entertainment areas continued to build on their reputation as being a safe place to socialise as violent crime was down 17 per cent to 124 incidents.
Shoplifting offences were also down to 131, a drop of five per cent on last December.
Weather
December was mostly changeable, the first 10 days being mild but it then turned colder with snowfalls after mid-month. Overall, it was a very cold month with mean temperatures 1.5 to 2.0 °C below the 1971-2000 normal. Provisionally, it was the coldest December over the UK since 1995.