Footfall in UK retail destinations has shown some signs of improvement in the week leading up to August 22, though it still remains at historically low levels. Data from Springboard indicates a 4.1% increase in footfall compared to the previous week, marking a significant acceleration from the previous week’s +0.8% and the +1.8% from the same period last year.
The boost in footfall was particularly notable in Greater London and the South East, with rises of 6.8% and 7.1% respectively. These regions, known for generating higher footfall volumes, saw a 30.7% year-on-year decline for the week, an improvement from the 32.5% decline observed in the prior week.
Across all types of retail destinations, there was an increase in footfall, with shopping centres experiencing a 7.1% rise, high streets seeing a 3.2% increase, and retail parks with a 2.7% increase. Retail parks have consistently outperformed shopping centres and high streets, with footfall only 10.6% lower than the previous year, compared to the 32.4% decline in shopping centres and 39.1% decline in high streets.
City centres, particularly Central London, continue to face challenges as footfall remains significantly lower than last year, with a 61.2% decrease. Regional cities also saw a decline of 49.8%. In contrast, smaller local high streets, coastal towns, historic towns, and market towns are showing signs of recovery, with footfall drops ranging from 28.3% to 34.1% compared to the previous year.
This shift in footfall trends can be attributed to a growing preference among consumers for ‘shopping local’ and an increase in ‘staycations’ within the UK due to travel restrictions. As city centres struggle, there is a noticeable movement towards supporting local businesses and destinations.
For more information on UK retail trends, visit Retail Gazette. To explore strategies for supporting local businesses, check out Government Guidelines.
