Retail footfall rises 0.5% as shoppers return to high streets

UK retail footfall rose by 0.5% last week, predominantly driven by a 3.9% increase across UK high streets, as shoppers continued to return to high streets following the easing of restrictions last month.

According to the latest data from Springboard, whilst retail footfall overall increased, retail parks footfall declined by 3.4% and by 2.8% in shopping centres.

The rise in high street footfall was polarised, with significant uplifts on Monday and Saturday (19.1% and 19% respectively) which were bounce backs from drops in footfall on those two days over the bank holiday weekend.

There was also an increase in footfall of 5.7% in market towns where shoppers stayed local, and a 4.2% rise in Central London which suggests that shoppers are starting to feel “sufficiently confident” to make trips to the capital.

Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said: “Shoppers continued to demonstrate a greater desire to visit their local high streets than large city centres across the UK. Although it seems that Central London is becoming more appealing with a rise in footfall last week that was the second highest of any type of high street, only lower than in market towns.

“With indoor hospitality opening the return of shoppers to high streets couldn’t come at a better time, suggesting we will see a further uplift in footfall as the opportunity to eat and drink inside protected from the elements will give shoppers an incentive to visit high streets more frequently and dwell longer.”