According to the latest data from Springboard, UK retail footfall was negatively impacted by poor weather conditions last week. However, the situation was much brighter in Scotland, where footfall exceeded expectations as non-essential stores reopened after a four-month lockdown, as reported by Ipsos. Overall, footfall in the UK declined by 4.1% week-on-week, with high streets experiencing a greater decrease of 6.6%. Retail parks and shopping centres saw more modest declines of 1.3% and 1.5% respectively.
When comparing footfall to 2019, shopping centres in the UK have experienced a decline of 27.2%, while high streets have seen a decline of 35.6% and retail parks only a 1.3% decline. In contrast, Scotland has seen a significant increase in footfall since reopening, with the first day of trading surpassing 2019 levels by 21.8%. Tuesday and Wednesday also saw an increase in shopper numbers. Overall, footfall in Scotland during the first week of reopening was down by only 6.2% compared to the same period in 2019.
However, the decline in footfall from 2019 was widespread across the UK, excluding Northern Ireland where footfall increased by 21.1% due to the reopening of retail on April 30. Central London continues to face significant challenges, with footfall 61.2% lower than 2019 levels, while outer London saw a smaller decline of 16.6%.
Diane Wehrle, Insights Director at Springboard, emphasized the impact of the rain on footfall, noting that shopping centres and retail parks experienced smaller declines compared to high streets. Retail parks have shown resilience throughout the pandemic in retaining shopper numbers, with footfall in this type of destination only slightly below pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Dr. Tim Denison, Head of Analytics and Insights at Ipsos, highlighted the enthusiasm of Scottish consumers for returning to shops and the sociable nature of shopping that is cherished by Scots. He expressed optimism about the encouraging early footfall data in Scotland.
In conclusion, while poor weather conditions affected UK retail footfall, Scotland experienced a more positive recovery as non-essential stores reopened. The disparities in footfall between different regions of the UK reflect the ongoing challenges faced by the retail industry and the varying levels of consumer confidence and enthusiasm for in-person shopping.
Useful links:
1. Retail Gazette: UK Retail Footfall Drops 2.5% as Misery of Weather Deepens
2. BBC News: Scottish Shops Report ‘Bumper Saturday’
