The month of July brought positive news for the UK retail sector, as there was a slow but steady climb in footfall recovery, indicating a gradual reopening of businesses in the country. Recent data from Springboard revealed a significant week-on-week increase of 10.6%, more than double the previous week’s rise of 4.1%.
A key factor driving this growth was the reopening of pubs, cafes, and restaurants, which attracted consumers to physical shopping destinations. In high streets where these hospitality outlets are concentrated, footfall surged by 16.5% over the week, showing a promising trend.
Although there are encouraging signs of recovery, total footfall in the UK remains below half of what it was in July 2019. Shopping centers saw a 7.8% increase in footfall, indicating a positive trend despite the fewer hospitality options in these locations. If this growth continues in the coming months, shopping centers could be on track for full recovery by autumn.
Retail parks also experienced a slight uptick in footfall by 0.7%, likely due to the presence of essential stores and family-friendly restaurants. While footfall in retail parks is lower than last year, it is evident that these areas have shown resilience throughout the lockdown period.
The easing of lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales has further contributed to the overall increase in footfall across the UK. Northern Ireland saw a significant 21% rise, while Scotland and Wales experienced upticks of 11.8% and 13.6% respectively as travel restrictions were eased.
In Central London, footfall rose by 25% week-on-week, though it remains significantly lower compared to the previous year. These numbers reflect a slow but steady progress in retail footfall recovery in the UK, offering hope for a continued upward trend in the months ahead.
For more information on retail trends and footfall recovery in the UK, check out these useful links:
BBC Business News
Retail Gazette
