Shopping centre footfall down as customers move online

Against last year, data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Springboard Footfall Monitor for the week beginning December 3, 2012 shows footfall in shopping centres slumped 4.9%, while shopper numbers across high streets and out-of-town locations fell 0.8% and 0.4% respectively.

BRC director general Stephen Robertson said the 1.7% footfall drop year-on-year was “disappointing”.

He added: “Several factors are in play; people who haven’t got spare money aren’t shopping. And cold weather, perhaps coupled with the media buzz around ‘Mega Monday’, may have motivated many to stay indoors and do shopping online rather than venturing out in freezing conditions.”

However, footfall increased 2.3% on the previous week as the Christmas shopping spree gained momentum.

Week-on-week, however, shopping centre footfall jumped 3.6%, while high street and out-of-town footfall grew 2.2%and 0.9% respectively, as Christmas spending ramps up.

Robertson said: “Though the increase is a baby step rather than a big leap, it at least demonstrates that momentum is building slowly but surely as we get into the final fortnight before Christmas.”

Springboard research director Diane Wehrle added: “Shopping centres have seen a greater increase in footfall this week than retail parks and the high street, which is to be expected as customers tend to gravitate towards the certainty they offer for Christmas shopping in terms of their greater breadth and depth together with weather protection.”