Latest data from MRI Software shows retail footfall across the UK dipped slightly by 0.6% in October from September as a shift in the school half-term holidays spanned over the final week of October and the first week of November combined with a month of inclement weather conditions.
This was particularly prominent in retail parks and shopping centres, where footfall dropped by 1.3% and 1.2%, respectively. High streets also witnessed a decline, but only 0.1%.
Compared to last year, footfall trends across all UK retail destinations followed a similar pattern, falling by 0.6%. While retail parks witnessed a rise of 0.8%, shopping centres and high streets saw declines of 1.5% and 0.8%, respectively. Much of this is likely be derived from the final week of the month, which recorded a 3.5% decline in activity overall. Storm Babet’s impact on footfall recovery last year appears to parallel this October’s dip, reinforcing a broader return to seasonal normalcy despite the ongoing economic situation. While this year’s footfall figures align with historical trends, MRI Software noted that it was important to take into account that consumers may have also been cautious with their spending ahead of the Autumn budget and Black Friday.
With Black Friday less than a month away and Christmas following shortly behind, retail stores and destinations are expected to see footfall improve in November. In the second week of October, MRI Software’s weekly ‘Insights from the Inside’ poll revealed that 68% of retailers had noticed consumers already starting to shop for Christmas, while 66% remain optimistic that footfall will be higher in November this year compared to last year.
