The British Retail Consortium (BRC) sheds light on a notable decline in retail footfall during the critical Christmas trading period, attributing it to one of the wettest Decembers on record. Despite an optimistic report from MRI Software earlier in the week, varying assessment criteria contribute to different results in measuring visitor traffic.
BRC-Sensormatic IQ data reveals a 5% year-on-year decrease in total UK footfall for the five weeks leading up to December 30. High street footfall dipped by 4.2%, retail park visits by 4.8%, and shopping center footfall took a substantial hit with a 7.4% decline. It’s crucial to note the disparities with the MRI figures that positioned malls as top performers.
Breaking down the footfall figures across the UK nations, Scotland experienced the least significant year-on-year drop at -2.2%, followed by Northern Ireland with a 4.7% decline, and England and Wales both at -5.8%.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, notes the impact of December’s heavy rain on shopper behavior, leading to increased online browsing before final purchases or a preference for online shopping. Dickinson highlights exceptions, like Edinburgh, where recent investments in new shopping destinations led to a rise in footfall.
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, acknowledges festive peaks in shopper traffic, particularly around discounting days like Boxing Day, witnessing a 39.2% week-on-week improvement in footfall. However, the absence of a last-minute Christmas trading rush contributes to an overall downward year-on-year trajectory in store visits for December—the anticipated crescendo of the Golden Quarter. Retailers are optimistic that demand will rebound as inflation eases, and the impact of the spending squeeze on disposable incomes softens. Stay tuned for updates as the retail landscape evolves.
