September footfall saw a decline as floods and low consumer confidence took its toll

Footfall across all destinations in September fell 3% month on month despite more workers returning to the office, according to data from MRI Software.

The decline was mainly driven by a 4.5% drop in high street footfall. Retail Parks footfall saw a 1.6% fall while shopping centres fell 1.4%.

Annual footfall was on the up however, edging up 0.1% from September 2023. While retail parks and shopping centres saw a 2.6% and 0.5% annual uplift respectively, this was offset by a 1.2% decline in high street footfall.

Weekend footfall ticked up 0.1% from August to September, but weekday activity decreased 0.4%.

MRI added that the UK saw a 4.9% boost in high street footfall in the penultimate week in September, which could have coincided with more employees returning to the office.

MRI Software marketing and insights director Jenni Matthews said: “September typically marks a return to school and offices following the summer break and, as a result, retail footfall often sees a month on month decline. This year is no different with footfall levels declining by -3% in all UK retail destinations. However, it appears to have been exacerbated compared to previous September’s, likely due to the widespread flooding witnessed in the final week of the month across many parts of the UK. 

“Compared to 2023, footfall remained fairly stable with a -0.1% decline recorded across all UK retail destinations. Retail parks and shopping centres saw an uplift of +2.6% and +0.5% whereas high streets saw a -1.2% decline, which is the first decline since 2019 and highlights the impact of the inclement weather conditions in the final week of the month.

“September also saw consumer confidence, as measured by GfK, take its biggest setback since March, falling by seven points to -20. This sharp drop in consumer confidence may well be attributed to concerns about the general economic situation over the next 12 months, with confidence sitting at -27 compared to -29 last year. With energy bills set to rise and uncertainty around the Autumn budget, consumer caution may well increase and should be monitored closely by retailers as preparations for the Golden Quarter get underway.

“As retail leaders gear up for the Golden Quarter and look ahead to 2025, AI-driven insights are becoming a necessity. The ability to bring together data from multiple sources, including footfall benchmarks, lease management data and operational data such as facilities management and energy usage is transforming the way retailers approach strategic planning and decision-making. Holistic data enables improved forecasting, quicker responses to shifts in the market, and the opportunity to create more personalised consumer experiences through refined marketing strategies.”