And while December ended up slightly ahead, she said a lot of customers continued to complain that parking meters killed the experience of shopping. "There is loads of negativity about parking."
Mayor Stuart Crosby said the council was considering five parking scenarios ranging from the status quo to totally free parking, with each scenario needing different funding. A report would be put to the council later this month and if the favoured option required substantial contributions from other than the Parking Account, it would become part of the 10-year plan.
In the meantime the council had extended its deal offering shoppers free parking after 3pm until the end of January.
Pagani womenswear manager Lisa Mitchell said they had been busy in the lead-up to Christmas, with only the wet weather in the week before Christmas slowing things a bit. Overall trading for December had been good, with December 31 being "manic". Customers had commented favourably about free parking after 3pm.
Neville Stewart of Don Stewart Jewellers said they were pleased to be up on last year. He wasn't fazed by the empty shops, saying it was an evolutionary thing that would take care of itself.
It was caused by a mix of things such as the growth of retailing out of the city centre, earthquake strengthening and finding tenants for the downtown's older, bigger shops.
Ben Tuck of Broncos Outdoors received calls in the week before Christmas from wholesalers and retailers asking what the hell was going on - it was so quiet.
He said they were down a little compared with 2013 but their online sales were up. Mr Tuck said he was pleased with the result because he knew what was going on with the rest of the sports goods industry. Sports items were no longer at the top of Christmas shopping lists.
Kids were getting their presents from Noel Leeming, he said indicating across to the bus stops where nearly everyone was on their mobiles or smartphones.
Bill Campbell of Fancy That Gift and Souvenir Shop said he had been expecting an improvement for December but ended up nearly exactly the same as 2013. "It's the same ol' same ol'."
He was frustrated that the council was delaying the decision on free parking.
Damien Connor of Molloy's Menswear said they were a little bit up, with a mixture of flat days and good days. Lex Clay of Traks Music described trading as "nothing outstanding", saying he would not be ahead of last year. Chris Baskett of Books A Plenty was "very pleased", saying it was better than last year. Strandbags reported a steady trade. "I had to stay open for an extra half hour yesterday because customers kept on coming in."