Week five of trading post-lockdown – the data you need to know

Retail footfall across all destinations saw a modest 4.5% increase last week compared with the previous week – less than half the 10.6% bump seen during the reopening of hospitality and leisure businesses on July 4, according to the latest data from Springboard. 

High streets and shopping centres saw footfall rise 6.8% and 4.7% respectively, while retail parks, which had been the strongest performing retail destination during lockdown, saw a 0.7% decline. 

Central London and other cities enjoyed a better week by comparison to the rest of the UK, registering a 15% increase – more than double the rate of increase across all UK high streets. 

However, despite stronger weekly growth, the differences between pre-Covid footfall and now remains greater for Central London and other cities than for regional towns.

Springboard said Central London remains 71.3% down year on year, compared with 67.2% across historic towns.

“Last week demonstrated that the longed-for flood of shoppers returning to bricks-and-mortar destinations and retail stores once again became a trickle”

Diane Wehrle, Springboard  

Overall, footfall across all retail destinations in the UK remains well behind normal pre-Covid levels, currently tracking at a year-on-year decline of 40.2% – although this is the smallest discrepancy since lockdown began. 

Most interesting in the fifth week of trading was the days that were busiest. Last week, across the UK, Wednesday and Thursday saw the biggest daily rise in footfall, both registering 9.9% increases. The weekend period was comparatively quiet, with an increase of just 1.3%. 

Springboard said this was due to the “ongoing effect on footfall of a significant number of people still on furlough, for whom the weekend is not as significant for trips out” as it is for those working. 

By nation, both Scotland and Wales saw far more pronounced footfall recoveries last week, reporting increases of 21.7% and 15.6% respectively. However, Springboard said this was due to the respective devolved governments taking a more measured and methodical approach to unwinding lockdown measures. 

Springboard insights director Diane Wehrle said: “Last week demonstrated that the longed-for flood of shoppers returning to bricks-and-mortar destinations and retail stores once again became a trickle, with a week-on-week rise in footfall that was less than half that in the previous week. 

“Despite the limited rise in footfall, the year-on-year result is at its most modest yet, which does provide a glimmer of hope for the struggling retail industry.”