UK retail footfall declines for first time in seven weeks - Springboard

Footfall across the UK fell last week for the first in seven weeks, according to data released on Monday by retail analysts Springboard.

Footfall across all retail destinations slipped 0.7% from the week before. Footfall on high streets fell by 3.3%, but shopping centres and retail parks saw increases of 0.9% and 3.2%, respectively.

Footfall activity also differed in the first half of the week versus the second, with increases across UK destinations on each day between Sunday and Tuesday averaging 9.6%, but then declines on each of the subsequent four days averaging 6.2%.

Diane Wehrle, Insights Director at Springboard, said: "For the first time in seven weeks footfall in UK retail destinations declined from the week before. However, the drop was a marginal one, and was driven wholly by high streets, whilst activity in both retail parks and shopping centres continued to increase.

"Visits to retail parks increased by three times as much as in shopping centres, which may well have been a result of parents shopping for school clothing and items in large food stores in the run up to the return to the classroom."

Wehrle said that while the ongoing lockdown is the major influencer in shopping activity levels, weather still plays a part. She noted that footfall at all three destinations types rose significantly over the first three days of the week, but declined from Wednesday when the weather worsened.