July footfall drops for the first time since 2009
The gap from the pre-pandemic footfall level widened to -12.1% in July from -8.6% in June; in high streets the gap widened to -15.5% from -10.3% in June
Footfall across UK retail destinations declined by -0.3% over the month from June to July 2023, marking the first time it dropped in the month since 2009.
According to the latest data from Springboard, there was a month on month decrease in footfall in high streets of -1.7%, whilst in retail parks footfall was +0.7% higher than in June 2023 and +1.7% higher in shopping centres.
However, the increase in footfall in retail parks and shopping centres was more subdued than in July in previous years; since 2009 the average increase in footfall from June to July in retail parks has been +2.4% and +2.5% in shopping centres.
In addition, footfall across UK retail destinations rose annually by +2.1% in July versus +4.2% in June. In high streets footfall was just +1.2% ahead, versus an annual rise of +5.2% in June 2022.
The gap from the pre-pandemic footfall level widened to -12.1% in July from -8.6% in June; in high streets the gap widened to -15.5% from -10.3% in June.
In shopping centres the gap widened marginally from -13.3% to -14.9% in June and in retail parks it widened to -1.6% from -0.04% in June.
Diane Wehrle, Marketing and Insights director, said: “Whilst we have the experience of footfall bouncing back from a negative position in March to a positive one in April, it is not anticipated that this will necessarily be replicated in August this year.
“The August bank holiday is a less significant public holiday than Easter which is what drove additional footfall in April, and the impact of the increase in interest rates, with the Bank of England set to announce on Thursday further increases, is clearly now starting to be felt.
With the fourth quarter of the year looming, and many holidays either paid for or taken, it is inevitable that consumers’ attention will now turn towards planning for Christmas spending, which may well dampen footfall further in the latter part of the summer.”