According to the latest data from Ipsos, footfall in the non-food sector in UK retail is slowly improving but is still below pre-Covid levels. In the week leading up to May 29th, footfall was down by 20.8% compared to 2019. However, this is a significant improvement from the initial reopening of shops after lockdowns, which saw devastating figures.
A positive trend is emerging with cities outperforming towns in terms of footfall. Footfall in cities was down only 15.4% compared to 2019 and showed a weekly increase of 6.8%. This suggests that workers and visitors are starting to return to city centers. Throughout the pandemic, city centers have remained quiet as many people continue to work from home and domestic and international tourism levels remain low.
On the other hand, towns are experiencing a larger decrease in footfall, down 18.7% compared to the same week in 2019, with a minimal weekly increase of 1.9%. High streets and retail parks both saw a decline of 19.9% compared to 2019, with high streets experiencing a slight increase of 3.9% from the previous week and retail parks showing a modest increase of 1.9%. Shopping centers, however, had a 21.5% decrease compared to pre-pandemic levels but did experience a small increase of 3.7% on a weekly basis.
These figures offer some hope for the UK retail sector, indicating a gradual improvement in footfall. However, it is evident that a full recovery to pre-Covid levels will take time. The success of cities in attracting workers and visitors back suggests a potential shift towards city center shopping experiences. Retailers should take note of these trends and adapt their strategies accordingly to maximize the returning footfall. It is crucial for the industry to remain resilient and adaptable in order to navigate the ongoing challenges of the post-pandemic retail landscape.
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