Shoppers returned to stores in September, industry data showed on Friday, with footfall reaching its highest level since the start of the pandemic.
According to the latest BRC-Sensormatic IQ Footfall Monitor, total UK football fell 9.8% last month compared to September 2019. That represented a 2.6 percentage point improvement on August, and was comfortably above the three-month average decline of 11.4%.
Footfall on high streets fell 11.9% on the same basis, 1.7pp up on August, while retail parks declined by 2.5%, an increase of 1.6pp. Shopping centres were unchanged month-on-month, however, with a 22.7% decline.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Shopping centres continue to see higher vacancy rates than other locations, with many not having recovered from the loss of key anchor stores such as Debenhams, which went into liquidation during the pandemic.”
On a year-on-year basis, total footfall increased by 8.0%, compared to a 6.8% uptick in August. Footfall on high streets rose by 12.9%, in retail parks by 0.4% – compared to a fall of 3.7% a month earlier – and at shopping centres by 17.3%. Monitor is currently using year-on-three-year comparisons to even out distortions caused by two years of intermittent lockdowns. It will return to year-on-year comparisons as its primary data from January 2023.
Dickinson said footfall had reached its highest level since the onset of the pandemic in September, and was now within 10% of pre-Covid levels.
But she cautioned: “These figures belie the collapse in consumer confidence, which has resulted in falling sales volumes throughout the year. Meanwhile, soaring cost inflation is leading to upwards pressure on prices.
“Without action, retailers could face a 10% rise in their rates bill, equal to an additional £800m across the industry. While the energy support for businesses has been welcome, a freeze to business rates, with the promise of further reform, would go a long way to restore business confidence and supporting future investment.”
Andy Sumpter, EMEA retail consultant for Sensormatic Solutions, said: “While total UK retail saw football recovery rise to its highest point this year compared to pre-pandemic levels in September – boosted in part by back to school trading at the beginning of the month – retailers won’t be look at the high performance through rose-tinted glasses.
“Many are already downgrading Christmas trading forecasts amid shaky consumer confidence.”
The September data covers the five weeks from 28 August to 1 October.
