The UK experienced a decline in footfall in October, dropping 1.1% compared to last year.
- High street footfall fell by 3.6% in October, a significant drop from September’s 0.9% increase.
- Shopping centres saw a 1.6% decrease in footfall year on year, following a rise in September.
- Retail parks were an exception, showing a 4.8% increase in footfall over the year.
- Northern towns, including Leeds and Liverpool, fared better in terms of footfall.
In October, UK footfall decreased by 1.1% compared to the same month last year, reversing the positive trend seen in September where there was a 3.3% increase. This data was provided by the British Retail Consortium and Sensormatic, reflecting the shopper numbers entering retail stores across various locations, including high streets, shopping centres, and retail parks.
High street footfall in particular showed a significant decline, dropping by 3.6% in October. This was a notable contrast to September, which witnessed a 0.9% increase in footfall. Shopping centres experienced a similar trend, with a 1.6% year-on-year decrease in October, following a 2.3% rise in September.
Retail parks, however, bucked this trend with a 4.8% increase in footfall compared to the previous year. Despite this growth, it was still a reduction from the more substantial 7.3% increase seen in September. These figures highlight a continued attraction of shoppers to retail parks over other shopping destinations.
Helen Dickinson, CEO of the BRC, highlighted the decline in footfall, attributing it in part to the timing of the half-term holiday. She noted that retail parks have sustained positive momentum in footfall for three consecutive months, underscoring their appeal to consumers.
Interestingly, northern towns in England performed better, with places like Leeds and Liverpool reporting positive footfall. This is a continuation of a trend where certain regional areas are rebounding more robustly post-pandemic. Dickinson emphasised the importance of thriving high streets and town centres, not only for economic reasons but also for maintaining the social fabric of communities.
The data indicates mixed trends in UK retail footfall, with retail parks performing relatively well despite an overall national decline.
