Footfall stuck in worst rut for three years

Overall shopper numbers fell 0.9% during the five weeks to June 30, compared to the same period the previous year.

The latest drop means footfall is stuck in its worst rut for three years.

According to BRC-Springboard data, June’s decline was driven by a 3.4% slump in footfall at shopping centres, marking their 15th consecutive month of falling customer numbers.

Retail parks suffered a 0.4% downturn in shopper numbers, although that was against a tough comparable. Footfall increased 2.3% in retail parks in June 2017.

High streets were the only locations to register an increase in customer traffic during the month, with footfall edging up 0.1% across the five-week period.

Springboard marketing and insights director Diane Wehrle said: “The underlying results reveal the pressures facing retailers.

“Footfall during retail trading hours declined across all three destination types – with high street footfall rising marginally by 0.1% – whereas in retail parks and shopping centres, which are dominated by multiples, footfall declined.“

“The shift to leisure-based trips, initially evidenced by uplifts in footfall post-5pm, now also supports footfall during the daytime trading period. Many high streets have capitalised on this trend more swiftly than shopping centres, demonstrated by a drop of 0.8% in daytime footfall in high streets in June compared with -3.9% in shopping centres.

“Clearly, many shopping centres need to transform quickly to be able to capitalise once again on their inherent assets of cohesive management and strength of offer.”