Lockdown fatigue is becoming a pressing issue as foot traffic in the UK rises for the third consecutive week, highlighting a pent-up urge to venture out and indulge in some retail therapy. The most recent data from Springboard reveals a 6.7% increase in footfall across all retail destinations during the week of January 31 to February 5. This surge is a significant jump from the previous week, indicating a deepening sense of lockdown fatigue among the populace.
Notably, high streets experienced a 9% increase in footfall, while retail parks and shopping centers saw respective boosts of 4.5% and 4.3%. Despite the struggles faced by major cities during the pandemic, footfall in regional cities climbed by 2.5%, with Central London witnessing a substantial 12.3% rise. The year-on-year decline in footfall also decreased to just -63.9%, showcasing a gradual but positive trend.
Throughout the week, footfall steadily rose, with an average increase of 4% on working days and more significant spikes of 22.6% on Sunday and 11.2% on Saturday. The uplift in footfall varied across different regions, with Scotland experiencing a slight decrease of -4.9% due to adverse weather conditions, while the West Midlands and the South West saw impressive increases of +17.6% and +10.5% respectively.
In high streets, footfall increases were evenly spread across the country, with six out of 10 regions reporting growth rates exceeding 10%, peaking at +18.5% in the West Midlands. Diane Wehrle, Insights Director at Springboard, highlighted the data as clear evidence of mounting lockdown fatigue. She speculated that the rapid pace of the UK’s vaccination campaign might be instilling confidence in consumers, resulting in increased foot traffic despite the ongoing closure of non-essential stores.
Overall, the steady rise in footfall signals a strong yearning for a return to normalcy and underlines consumers’ eagerness to resume shopping in physical stores. As lockdown fatigue intensifies, it will be intriguing to monitor how footfall patterns evolve in the upcoming weeks as the UK grapples with the persistent challenges posed by the pandemic.
For more information on retail trends and footfall analysis, please visit Springboard and Retail Dive.
