UK high streets are experiencing a boost in footfall, signaling a potential recovery for the retail industry. According to retail experts Springboard, overall visits to retail destinations increased by 0.5% in the week of 14-20 March. This increase was driven by a significant 4% rise in high street visits, while footfall in retail parks and shopping centers declined by 4.4% and 2.3% respectively.
All types of high streets saw a rise in footfall compared to the previous week, with major city centers outside London seeing the most significant increase at 7.8%. This positive trend can be attributed to the easing of restrictions in Wales and the return of schools in Scotland, which led to footfall increases of 17% and 19.4% respectively in high streets in these regions. In contrast, England only experienced a 3% rise in high street footfall.
The fluctuations in footfall throughout the week were described as “volatile,” but there was a noticeable peak on Wednesday as the rain cleared in many areas for just one day. This suggests that weather conditions may have played a role in influencing footfall patterns.
Comparing the current footfall figures to the same week last year, when the UK was on the brink of its first lockdown, there is a significant improvement. Footfall plummeted by 21.7% in 2020, but this year’s figure shows a -40.8% annual change, marking a positive recovery. However, when compared to 2019, there is still a noticeable decline of 56.5%.
Diane Wehrle, Insights Director at Springboard, acknowledged the distortion in annual comparisons due to the drastic drop in footfall during the same week last year. She emphasized that while the annual decline has improved significantly, it should be viewed with caution.
Overall, these latest footfall figures indicate a promising trend for the UK retail industry. With the ongoing vaccine rollout and the gradual easing of restrictions, it is hoped that high streets will continue to experience a revival in footfall in the coming weeks.
Useful links:
– BBC News: UK High Street footfall rises as Covid rules eased
– Retail Gazette: UK high street visitor numbers see weekly increase
