October saw a slight decrease in UK footfall, marking a shift from September’s positive growth.
- The decline in high street and shopping centre footfall contrasted with growth in retail parks.
- Factors such as the rescheduling of half-term holidays influenced footfall statistics.
- Retail parks showed resilience with a year-on-year footfall increase for the third consecutive month.
- Northern towns in England, like Leeds and Liverpool, experienced positive footfall during this period.
In October, the UK observed a 1.1% reduction in overall footfall compared to the previous year, a significant change from the 3.3% increase noted in September. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic, this data represents a four-week period from 29 September to 26 October. The decrease was most noted in high streets, which experienced a 3.6% decline in foot traffic, moving down from a 0.9% increase recorded in September, while shopping centres saw a 1.6% year-on-year drop, down from a 2.3% increase in the previous month.
Conversely, retail parks reported a positive performance by marking a 4.8% increase in footfall compared to October of last year, although this was slightly down from 7.3% growth in September. This persistent growth trend in retail park attendance indicates a shift in consumer preferences towards these shopping destinations. As noted by Helen Dickinson, CEO of the BRC, this sustained increase signifies that retail parks continue to attract shoppers, despite the overall decline in other shopping environments.
Dickinson highlighted the influence of the half-term schedule on these figures, suggesting that the timing of school holidays plays a crucial role in shopping patterns across different retail environments. Although there is a general downturn, certain regions like Leeds and Liverpool bucked the trend, showing positive footfall. This variability across regions suggests a complex interplay of local economic conditions and consumer behaviour.
The sentiment expressed by Helen Dickinson further underscores the long-term challenges faced by traditional high streets following the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasised the importance of thriving high streets and town centres for the economic and social well-being of communities across the UK. As traditional retail environments continue to grapple with these challenges, retail parks seem to offer a viable alternative, drawing in consistent consumer numbers.
Despite the overall decline, retail parks remain a popular shopping destination, driven by changing consumer behaviours.
