The footfall to physical retail stores in the UK has once again taken a hit as the crucial festive shopping season approaches. This ongoing decline in footfall has compounded the struggles faced by the fashion sector following a lackluster AW18 season.
According to specialist tracking firm Springboard, footfall in October saw a 2% year-on-year decrease, matching the drop seen in the same month last year. This worrying trend has persisted for some time, with October marking the 11th consecutive month of decline in footfall.
Notably, Northern Ireland was the only region to experience an increase in footfall, with a growth of 2.7%. On the other hand, the East and East Midlands saw the sharpest declines at 6.1% and 4.8%, respectively. Wales also saw a smaller decrease in footfall in October compared to September, dropping from 5.5% to 2.3%.
Shopping centers, where many fashion stores are located, faced the biggest decline in visitor traffic at 3.3%, marking the 19th straight month of decrease. High streets also saw a drop of 2.3%, continuing a downward trend over the past three months.
Despite being viewed as a bright spot for the fashion sector, retail parks saw a 0.2% decrease in footfall after two months of growth. Furthermore, the national town center vacancy rate rose to 9.6% in October, up from 9.3% a year ago.
Diane Wehrle, Marketing and Insights Director at Springboard, emphasized the challenges ahead for the retail sector, particularly as consumer demand weakens leading up to the crucial Christmas period. With footfall on the decline, retailers are preparing for a tough holiday season.
For further insight into the challenges faced by the retail sector, check out this article here. Additionally, to learn more about the impact of declining footfall on fashion retailers, click this link.
