Retail footfall saw an almost double-digit decline last week, as school holidays ended.
Footfall dropped by 9.3% according to Springboard. Shopping centres were the worst effects with a drop of 11.6%, high streets saw a 10.9% fall and retail parks saw visits decline by 3.1%.
Compared with 2019 footfall was 13.4% lower, down from 10.9% the week before.
The drop back in footfall last week meant that the gap from the 2019 level widened once again, to -13.4 per cent versus -10.9 per cent in the week before.
‘Footfall in UK retail destinations fell back sharply last week, eliminating virtually all the uplift gained in the week before last during the school October half term break. However, it is important to appreciate that this was an expected result, as footfall has dropped in the week post the October half term break in every year since Springboard starting publishing footfall benchmarks in 2009,’ says Diane Wehrle, Springboard insights director.
‘With high streets and shopping centres recording the largest gains during the half term week, it was in these two destination types where footfall declined most with double-digit drops. The fall back to the pre-half term footfall level was not specific to any particular area, with all UK geographies recording declines. The impact of those returning to work last week after the half term break was clear to see, although it seems the hybrid of office and home working is still very much established.’
