Retail footfall slipped over the four weeks to 23 November as Storm Bert and low consumer confidence meant shoppers were hesitant to hit the shops. The later timing of Black Friday this year also exacerbated the year-on-year decline.
The BRC-Sensormatic analysis shows total shopper numbers fell 4.5% during the month, compared to a decline of 1.1% in October.
Footfall in retail parks was down 1.1% after a 4.8% rise the month before. Shopping centre visitor numbers slid 6.1% after a 1.6% fall in October, while high street footfall decreased 3.7% compared to a 3.6% decline the previous month.
“Retailers remain hopeful that the Black Friday and Christmas sales will help to turn around the declining footfall seen through most of 2024, crucial as we enter the golden quarter,” said Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, added: “Retail store visits dipped in November as consumer confidence remains volatile, perhaps not helped by post-Budget spending jitters and shoppers withholding festive purchases, opting instead to shop around for the best prices or hold out for further discounting.
“This lacklustre footfall performance will have come as a blow for many retailers, who would have been counting on getting early Christmas trading results under their belts before the start of advent. However, it’s worth noting that these figures do not include Black Friday and the Saturday of the Black Friday weekend – tipped as one of the top busiest days for store shopping during peak trading – which will hopefully jump start seasonal shopping.
“Now, all eyes turn to December, where retailers hope to make up for lost ground and turn around their festive fortunes. This will rely not only on effective merchandising and shored up inventory availability, but on building the compelling and immersive experiences that bring the seasonal magic to life in-store.”
