A noteworthy increase in UK footfall was observed in September, marking the first significant rise in over a year.
- The total UK footfall increased by 3.3% compared to the previous year’s data for September.
- Retail parks showed the most impressive growth with a 7.3% increase in footfall.
- Mild weather conditions contributed to the boost in shopping trips across various retail environments.
- All four devolved nations in the UK displayed positive year-on-year growth in footfall.
In an encouraging turn of events, UK footfall figures have risen significantly for the first time in over a year. The data, sourced from the BRC-Sensormatic Footfall Monitor, indicates a 3.3% increase in footfall in September when compared to the same period last year. This marks a substantial improvement from the negative 0.4% reported in August.
Dissecting the data further, high street footfall experienced a modest rise of 0.9%, bouncing back from a 0.3% decline in August. The most remarkable progress was observed in retail parks, where footfall surged by 7.3%, compared to a 2.6% rise in the preceding month. Shopping centers also witnessed a rebound with a 2.3% increase, contrasting starkly with the negative 1.8% in August.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, attributed this uplift to a combination of mild weather and comparatively weak footfall last year. She describes the situation as a “sweet spot” for retailers, where weather conditions were neither too hot nor too cold, facilitating additional shopping ventures. “This compared positively with last year,” she noted, “when the intense heatwave deterred many from shopping and delayed purchases of autumnal items.”
Retail consultant Andy Sumpter of Sensormatic highlighted the returning positive trend, noting the upswing in shopper numbers marked the first positive yearly performance since July 2023. Retail parks, in particular, stood out as the leading destinations due to their strategic location and the mix of supermarket and discount retail offerings, which effectively drove customer traffic. However, he cautioned that while retailers welcomed this boost, some remained wary of its long-term sustainability.
Moreover, the positive trend was uniformly echoed across the UK’s devolved nations. Wales led with a 5.4% increase in footfall, followed by England with a 3.6% rise. Northern Ireland and Scotland also saw growth, recording 2.5% and 0.7% increases, respectively.
The September footfall data indicates a promising recovery trend for UK retailers, driven by favorable weather conditions and strategic retail offerings.
