UK retail footfall dropped by more than 1% for the third consecutive time in September, an unwelcome sense of déjà vu that drove the three month rolling average down to its lowest point since August of last year.
The latest British Retail Consortium (BRC)/Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor found shopper numbers last month decreased by 1.2% year-on-year, the same decrease as in August. The result leaves it in line with the three-month rolling average of -1.2% and below the 12-month rolling average of -0.4%.
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High Street footfall slipped by 2.2% in September, a smaller decline than August’s 2.6%, while shopping centres showed a further fall of 1%, a slightly bigger drop than in August which registered a decrease of 0.8%. Retail parks meanwhile, still saw positive growth, but reduced to 1.1% from 1.6% in August, a 0.5 percentage point reduction.
Diane Wehrle, Springboard marketing and insights director, says despite the overall decline in footfall, the appeal of retail parks’ accessibility and free parking, alongside an increasingly attractive proposition, comes to the fore when household budgets are squeezed through inflationary pressures and minimal wage rise.
She adds the accelerating decline in footfall is a strong indicator of consumers railing back spending, with the weather offering no excuse.
“Much is often made about the impact of weather, but with similar weather conditions to September 2016, this cannot be put forward as a driver,” she explains. “Aggressive early season sales indicate retailers are spooked, and they will be on edge with the six-week countdown now on to the start of the festive shopping season.”
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By GlobalDataMeanwhile, Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, says September’s footfall figures have a sense of “unwelcome déjà vu” around them, with most shopping destinations suffering a decline for the third consecutive month.
She adds there is an “urgent need” to stall the growing number of retail locations – particularly in more vulnerable parts of the country – falling further and further behind by attracting shoppers to retail destinations with the right mix of products, experience and convenience.
“But this is where the conundrum lies for retailers: the growing cost of doing business leaves little to no wiggle room for investment in their store proposition.”
