Total UK footfall decreased by 11.8% in October compared to pre-pandemic figures, 2.0 percentage points worse than September, according to new BRC-Sensormatic IQ data.
The figures show high streets footfall declined 11.6% in October compared to pre-pandemic figures, but was 0.3 percentage points better than last month’s rate, and an improvement on the three-month average decline of 11.9%.
Shopping Centre footfall declined by 21.8% compared to pre-pandemic figures, but was 0.9 percentage points better than last month’s rate, and above the three-month average decline of 22.2%.
England again saw the shallowest footfall decline of all regions at -11.4%, followed by Scotland at -12.0%, and Northern Ireland at -13.1%. Wales saw the steepest decline at -16.1%.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “October marked the first full month of higher energy bills for many families after the price cap rose 26%, reducing household discretionary spending. Rail strikes also did no favours, with most cities seeing a fall in footfall; that could be exacerbated by further strike action.
“The next few months will be crucial, as the Christmas spending period begins. Households are unlikely to see the cost-of-living crisis ease any time soon, and retailers are finding it harder to shoulder the mounting supply chain pressures.”
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, added: “As consumers and retailers both adapt to what’s being coined the ‘new abnormal’, in which economic and political uncertainty creates new – and increasingly frequent – curveballs, retailers will be hoping to minimise disruption to safeguard their Christmas performance.”
