Summer holiday boost high street footfall in August

Footfall increased 0.1 percent within all retail locations across the UK during the month of August in comparison to the same month last year. This increase has been largely attributed to the “strong growth” of 1.1 percent seen on the high street, according to the latest BRC-Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor.

Footfall in retail parks witnessed a 0.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year, while footfall in shopping centres continued to decline, dropping 1.9 percent in August - the seventh consecutive month of falling shopper numbers. However, Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, was quick to highlight the rise in footfall on high street took place during the same period as a fall in retail sales.

“This suggests that people are being drawn to the high streets for reasons other than to shop – perhaps because many are now doing a better job at mixed offer and are no longer solely retail destinations,” said Dickinson in a statement. “Improving this model should bode well for the longer term survival of the British High Street.”

Diana Wehrle, marketing and insights director at Springboard, added: “Driving the overall rise on the high street is an increase in footfall post 5pm, which highlights the growing evening economy based on leisure activities – hospitality, food and beverage trips – and is a result of a markedly improved and expanded offering by shopping destinations.bOnly in retail parks did footfall during daytime trading hours improve.”

“A kneejerk reaction might be to assume a post Brexit impact, however, improved averages for high streets and shopping centres over the same period this year does not wholly bear this out,” she concluded. “More likely is that many noticeable enhancements in key out of town locations, which drove significant uplifts over the past two years, are already in place. Going forward retail parks may face similar challenges as high streets and shopping centres in delivering incremental growth in footfall.”

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