According to the Ipsos Retail Traffic Index, the latest figures show that retail footfall in the UK is steadily increasing, signaling a return to normalcy for consumers. The data, which encompasses the seven days leading up to May 8th, reveals that footfall is only 4.7% lower compared to 2019 and has risen by 6.3% from the previous week. This marks the most positive result since the UK was hit by the pandemic, representing a significant milestone for the retail industry, which has faced its toughest period since the 1970s or even World War II in the 1940s.
In terms of regional performance, towns have performed better than cities, surpassing them by 0.9% points. The London/South East region stands out with its strong performance, as store visits are down only 6.1% compared to 2019 and have increased by a notable 8.1% from the previous week.
Towns did experience a dip of 2.9% compared to 2019 but saw a 4.4% increase from the previous week. Cities, on the other hand, have been heavily impacted by the absence of daily office commuters and a significant decrease in tourism. However, these sectors are now on the path to recovery, with city footfall declining by only 3.8% compared to 2019 and rising by as much as 7.1% in just one week.
Certain areas like Scotland/Northern Ireland and South West England/Wales are still struggling to reach pre-pandemic levels, facing double-digit declines compared to 2019.
When examining specific destination types, high streets have been hit the hardest, with footfall down by 8.6% compared to 2019. However, there was a 5.2% increase from the previous week, indicating a positive trend. Retail parks have experienced a more moderate decline of only 1% compared to 2019, and they saw a 5.2% increase from the previous week. Shopping centers, on the other hand, continue to face challenges, with footfall remaining 9.2% lower compared to 2019, but they did see a 5.2% increase from the previous seven days.
Overall, the rise in UK footfall is a promising sign for the retail industry, suggesting that consumers are gradually returning to their pre-pandemic shopping patterns. Although there are still areas that have yet to fully recover, the resilience and adaptability of businesses in the face of unprecedented challenges have propelled the industry forward. As restrictions continue to ease and consumer confidence grows, it is hoped that UK footfall will continue its upward trajectory, supporting the recovery of the retail sector.
Useful Links:
1. BBC: UK Retail Footfall Recovers as Lockdown Eases
2. Retail Gazette: Footfall Rates Increase as People Regain Sense of Normality
