UK retail experienced a significant uptick in footfall during September, marking the first increase in over a year.
- Total UK footfall rose by 3.3% year-on-year, contrasting sharply with August’s decline.
- Retail parks, high streets, and shopping centres all saw varying levels of increased footfall.
- Mild weather played a crucial role, offering ideal conditions for shoppers.
- The positive trend offers cautious optimism for retailers amid economic uncertainties.
In September, the United Kingdom witnessed a remarkable rise in retail footfall, a notable development after more than a year of decline. This increase of 3.3% was a significant improvement from the previous month’s dip of 0.4%.
The data, collected by the BRC-Sensormatic Footfall Monitor over five weeks from August to September, highlights a shift in consumer behaviour. High street footfall rose by 0.9%, reversing the downward trend seen in August. More impressively, retail parks experienced a 7.3% increase, while shopping centres saw a 2.3% rise compared to negative figures in the previous month.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, attributed this rise to a combination of favourable weather conditions and a weak footfall from the previous year. The temperate weather offered a ‘sweet spot’ for shoppers, neither too hot nor too cold, contrasting with last year’s heatwave that kept many potential customers indoors. “Retail parks continued to perform particularly well as the increased rain drove some people towards shopping areas with nearby parking,” Dickinson remarked.
Andy Sumpter from Sensormatic reflected on how this September marks the first positive year-on-year footfall performance since July 2023. He noted that while high streets and shopping centres made gains, retail parks remained the preferred destination, thanks to their diverse offerings, from supermarkets to discount retailers. However, Sumpter also suggested retailers maintain a vigilant outlook despite this promising start.
The data also revealed regional increases across the UK, with Wales leading at a 5.4% rise, followed by England at 3.6%, Northern Ireland at 2.5%, and Scotland registering a modest 0.7% increase.
The upturn in footfall during September brings a guarded sense of optimism for UK retailers.
