The UK retail sector faced challenges this June with notable declines in footfall. High street visits dropped significantly, while shopping centres experienced a slight decrease. Retail parks, however, observed a marginal increase. The later part of the month showed signs of recovery due to key events.
- High street footfall fell by -2.3% overall in June, marking the first decline since 2019.
- Shopping centres saw a decrease of -1.3%, whereas retail parks experienced a slight increase of +0.5%.
- Footfall in June improved by +2.7% compared to May, backed by events like the Euro’s and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
- The Consumer Pulse Survey indicated potential further declines, with many planning holidays in July and August.
The UK retail landscape in June was notably stagnated, with various sectors experiencing declines in footfall. High street visits fell by -2.3% overall, a significant drop given that there had been no such declines witnessed since pre-pandemic times in 2019. While shopping centres also experienced a decline of -1.3%, retail parks saw a modest increase of +0.5%.
Despite these figures, there was a small footfall recovery from May to June, with overall visits rising by +2.7%. This increase was largely attributed to the second half of June owing to events such as the Euro’s and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.Shopping centres benefited with a +3.8% boost, while high streets noted a +3.1% increase, and retail parks saw a +0.7% rise.
MRI Software’s data underscored the impact of shifting consumer behaviour, influenced by holiday planning. Their Consumer Pulse Survey from May highlighted a high inclination towards overseas holidays, with 46.5% of respondents indicating travel plans for the year. Alarmingly, July and August were identified as the peak months for these vacation plans, with July drawing +24.2% and August +34.1% intending to travel.
The final week of June hinted at recovery, particularly in high streets, which witnessed a +7.3% rise in footfall, coinciding with the beginning of the Euro’s and the arrival of Taylor Swift’s events in the UK.
Consumer habits are shifting as holidays influence retail footfall, with signs of recovery despite early summer challenges.
