Taylor Swift and Euros boost footfall amid damp June
This comes as three of the four UK nations saw a fall in footfall year on year
Taylor Swift’s UK tour and the Euros helped strengthen footfall during a very wet June as total UK footfall decreased by 2.3% in June (YoY), up from -3.6% in May, according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
On a segment basis, high street footfall decreased by 3.1% in June (YoY), down from -2.7% in May, retail park footfall decreased by 0.4% in June (YoY), up from -2.3% in May and shopping centre footfall decreased by 3.2% in June (YoY), up from -4.5% in May.
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, said that the start of the 2024 Euros and Taylor Swift’s Eras tour “helped to deliver an ambient boost to shopper traffic”. However, he warned that while edging up compared with May, store visits remain marginally down compared to 2023, suggesting recovery in shopper traffic has “yet fully to turn a corner”.
This comes as three of the four UK nations saw a fall in footfall year on year: Scotland was the only nation to see an increase as footfall improved by 0.2% YoY. Northern Ireland decreased by 0.6% YoYwith England and Wales seeing the most notable falls in footfall, dropping 2.6% and 4.1% YoY respectively.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: “With June failing to live up to last year’s heatwave, overall footfall declined last month compared to the previous year. However retail parks and shopping centres did see an uptick compared to the previous month’s washout, and footfall levels in Edinburgh and Liverpool were boosted as Taylor Swift enchanted crowds of fans. Retailers are hoping that warmer weather and maybe, just maybe, a successful European Championships for England could bring footfall home this July.
“As the new government forms today, it is vital that the problems facing local communities are addressed in its first hundred days. Planning reform must be a priority – a fast-track planning system, which includes automatic approval in certain cases will give retailers tools to invest up and down the country. Speeding up these processes, alongside reform of business rates, will help town and city centres to thrive. With our high streets undergoing transformation, as properties are used more often for wider purposes beyond retail, these reforms are essential for successful regeneration of local areas across the UK and ensuring footfall recovers in the medium and longer term.”
