November witnessed a noticeable decline in footfall across UK retail spaces.
- Overall footfall dropped by 4.5% year-on-year in November, a sharper decrease than the previous month’s 1.1% fall.
- Retail parks and shopping centres both saw reduced visitor numbers, highlighting a significant retail trend.
- Each UK nation experienced a drop in footfall, with Wales and Scotland seeing the most considerable declines.
- Economic factors such as consumer confidence and a later Black Friday affected retail performance.
In a significant trend for UK retail, total footfall decreased by 4.5% in November compared to the previous year. This decline is starkly higher than the 1.1% decrease observed in October, as reported by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic High Street.
Retail parks experienced a 1.1% reduction, marking a shift from a 4.8% increase the month prior. Shopping centres faced a 6.1% decrease, highlighting a broader challenge within the retail environment. Such figures point to a trend of reduced consumer visits to physical stores.
The decline was consistent across all four UK nations, with Wales experiencing the most dramatic fall at 7.1%, followed by Scotland at 6.8%, England at 4.2%, and Northern Ireland at 2.8%. These numbers reflect underlying challenges in retail foot traffic across the board.
This year’s footfall figures, unlike the previous year, did not include the impact of Black Friday sales, which occurred later in the month, on 29 November. This discrepancy plays a role in exacerbating the year-on-year comparison figures.
Helen Dickinson, CEO of the BRC, remarked on the adverse impact of the delayed Black Friday and wavering consumer confidence, leading to hesitancy among shoppers. She also noted that northern cities suffered additional declines due to disruptions caused by Storm Bert.
Echoing this sentiment, Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, pointed out that the lacklustre footfall was a setback for many retailers who anticipated early Christmas trading advantages. He noted the volatility in consumer confidence being a critical factor.
As retailers strive to recover from this November slump, there is hope that forthcoming Black Friday and Christmas sales will help stimulate the retail sector, which is pressing as the ‘golden quarter’ approaches.
The notable decline in November footfall across UK retail locations signals significant challenges, with seasonal sales events offering potential recovery.
