Retail footfall in the UK continues to show concerning declines, although there is a glimmer of hope amidst the latest English lockdown. According to specialist footfall tracker Springboard, there has been some resilience in footfall as shoppers slowly return to retail destinations despite ongoing government restrictions.
Recent data from Springboard revealed that footfall across UK retail destinations was down by 57.7% last week compared to the same period in 2019. High streets and shopping centers experienced significant decreases of 64.7% and 65.7% respectively, while retail parks had a smaller decline of 34.3%.
Interestingly, between Thursday and Saturday, there was an average increase of 13.2% in footfall across retail destinations compared to the previous week when the lockdown began. This unexpected rise occurred even with the closure of non-essential stores and hospitality businesses. High streets saw a 10.1% increase, shopping centers had a 14.1% rise, and retail parks experienced an 18.7% surge in footfall.
Following the two-week lockdown in Wales, footfall in Welsh retail destinations skyrocketed by an impressive 135.9% compared to the prior week, indicating strong demand as shops reopened.
When looking back at the initial UK lockdown in March, footfall plunged by 75.1% across all retail destinations, with high streets and shopping centers suffering drops of nearly 79%, while retail parks saw a 61% decrease.
Although there are positive trends, central London remains a point of concern during the current English lockdown, with footfall down by 82.4% compared to the same period last year, and a weekly decrease of 50.5%.
In summary, while retail footfall in the UK is still below pre-pandemic levels, the current lockdown period shows signs of improvement compared to earlier closures. With the holiday season approaching, retailers will be closely monitoring footfall trends to drive consumer spending and bring vitality back to the retail sector.
For further information on retail footfall trends in the UK, you can visit Retail Gazette and BBC Retail News.
