Retail footfall in Wales surged by 5.4% year-on-year in September, marking the highest national increase across the UK.
- Wales saw a recovery, contrasting with a 1.8% decline in August, and led the UK in retail footfall growth.
- Cardiff emerged among the top UK cities with a notable footfall uptick, ranking third nationally.
- The rise was partly attributed to ‘back to school’ shopping that boosted overall UK footfall by 3.3%.
- Despite challenges, retail in Wales shows potential for sustained growth with strategic governmental support.
Retail footfall in Wales experienced a significant increase in September, rising by 5.4% compared to the previous year. This notable growth was the highest among UK regions and was reported by the Welsh Retail Consortium (WRC). The increase in Wales outpaced England’s 3.6%, Northern Ireland’s 2.5%, and Scotland’s modest 0.7%.
The upturn in footfall marks a recovery from a 1.8% decline recorded in August. While the nation leads with a robust performance, the South East of England followed closely with a 4.7% increase. The overall uptick for the UK averaged 3.3%, notably supported by ‘back to school’ purchases.
Cardiff distinguished itself as one of the leading UK cities for footfall growth in September. Recording a 3.9% rise, it ranked third behind Leeds and Bristol. August had seen a 4.1% decline in Cardiff, highlighting the city’s substantial recovery.
This promising rise in retail footfall comes after a period of stagnation across the UK, with shopping centres still experiencing a 1.6% drop. Nevertheless, this was an improvement over August’s 5.2% decrease. Retail parks remained a strong driver of footfall, thanks to their mix of tenant offerings, including supermarkets and discount stores.
Sara Jones from the WRC highlighted that while these numbers were encouraging, the focus must shift to maintaining momentum in the upcoming Christmas period. Andy Sumpter from Sensormatic Solutions noted that retail parks played a vital role, being the preferred destination for many shoppers.
Wales’ impressive retail footfall rebound presents a hopeful outlook for sustained economic revival, contingent on strategic initiatives and support.
