Please note embargo
Covering the five weeks 26 November
– 30 December 2023
According to BRC-Sensormatic IQ data:
-
Total
UK footfall decreased by 5.0%
in December (YoY), down from -0.7% in November.
-
High
Street footfall decreased by
4.2% in December (YoY), down from -1.7% in November.
-
Retail Parks footfall
decreased by 4.8% in December (YoY), down
from -1.0% in November.
-
Shopping
Centre footfall decreased by
7.4% in December (YoY), down from -2.2% in November.
- Of the UK nations, Scotland saw
the least significant YoY drop in footfall, showing a decrease of
2.2%. Northern Ireland saw a YoY drop
in footfall of 4.7%. This was followed
by England and Wales,
both at 5.8%.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail
Consortium, said:
“December’s heavy rain left many
shoppers reluctant to brave the elements, who instead opted to
browse online before making final purchases, or shop online
altogether. This led to a substantial decline in footfall levels
compared to December 2022, when there was significant pent-up
demand for in-store shopping post Covid-restrictions. Some
cities, such as Edinburgh, bucked the trend, and saw footfall
levels rise in December thanks to recent investment in new,
exciting shopping destinations.”
“With a general election on the cards later this year, we are
calling for the political parties to set out a clear and cohesive
plan for retail in their manifestos. This plan must take account
of the regulatory cost burden and broken business rates system
which are limiting business investment and growth. Ways also need
to be found to create thriving shopping destinations and drive
customer footfall back up again in 2024.”
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic
Solutions, commented:
“One of the wettest Decembers
on record combined with dampened consumer confidence and ongoing
spending caution meant some retailers may have been left
disappointed in last month’s footfall performance. While we
saw festive glimmers of shopper traffic peaks in and around
discounting days, such as Boxing Day when footfall improved
+39.2% week-on-week, many may have been waiting for a last-minute
Christmas trading rush that never came. There’s little
doubt that the overall downward year-on-year trajectory in store
visits in December - usually the crescendo of the Golden Quarter
– will have come as a blow. Retailers will be hoping that
demand improves as inflation starts to ease and the impact of the
inflationary spending squeeze on disposable incomes softens.”
MONTHLY TOTAL UK RETAIL FOOTFALL (% CHANGE
YOY)
UK FOOTFALL BY LOCATION (% CHANGE YOY)
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY NATION AND REGION
|
GROWTH RANK
|
NATION AND REGION
|
Dec-23
|
Nov-23
|
|
1
|
London
|
-1.4%
|
-0.4%
|
|
2
|
Scotland
|
-2.2%
|
-0.9%
|
|
3
|
Northern Ireland
|
-4.7%
|
-4.9%
|
|
4
|
South West England
|
-4.9%
|
-0.3%
|
|
5
|
South East England
|
-5.1%
|
-2.4%
|
|
6
|
East of England
|
-5.2%
|
-0.1%
|
|
7
|
Yorkshire and the Humber
|
-5.3%
|
0.5%
|
|
9
|
Wales
|
-5.8%
|
-0.4%
|
|
9
|
England
|
-5.8%
|
-1.0%
|
|
10
|
East Midlands
|
-6.0%
|
-0.1%
|
|
11
|
West Midlands
|
-6.3%
|
1.7%
|
|
12
|
North West England
|
-7.9%
|
-1.2%
|
|
13
|
North East England
|
-8.8%
|
-2.8%
|
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY
|
GROWTH RANK
|
CITY
|
Dec-23
|
Nov-23
|
|
1
|
Edinburgh
|
6.4%
|
5.7%
|
|
2
|
Leeds
|
0.5%
|
3.1%
|
|
3
|
London
|
-1.4%
|
-0.4%
|
|
4
|
Belfast
|
-3.6%
|
-7.6%
|
|
5
|
Birmingham
|
-6.5%
|
2.5%
|
|
6
|
Liverpool
|
-7.2%
|
-2.4%
|
|
7
|
Bristol
|
-7.5%
|
-0.1%
|
|
8
|
Nottingham
|
-8.4%
|
-0.4%
|
|
9
|
Cardiff
|
-8.7%
|
-0.4%
|
|
10
|
Manchester
|
-9.3%
|
0.1%
|
|
11
|
Glasgow
|
-9.6%
|
-4.5%
|
-ENDS-
Methodology:
All figures are calculated using precise shopper numbers entering
retail stores across the UK, whichever destination they are
located.
