Retail footfall remained sluggish in January, but was its best for for months, according to new data.
Retail parks was the star performer, but shopping centres also saw improved performance.
UK footfall decreased by 0.6% in January, compared with a year earlier, up from -2.9% in December, according to the BRC/Sensormatic.
High Street footfall decreased by 1.9%, worse than the 0.9% fall in December.
Retail park footfall increased by 1.1% in January (YoY), up from -2.5% in December.
Shopping centre footfall decreased by 0.8% in January, up from -5.1% in December.
‘January offered a welcome reset for UK retail, with footfall recording its best performance in five months. Shopper traffic remained in negative territory, but the dial moved in the right direction, marking a clear improvement on December and the wider golden quarter,’ says Andy Sumpter, Sensormatic retail consultant EMEA.
‘Some of this uplift will have been driven by savvier spending behaviours, as consumers took advantage of New Year promotions and sought out value after a stretched festive period.’
Storm Goretti, however, put a dampener on activity in parts of the month, disrupting travel and suppressing visits — a reminder that weather can play an outsized role in shaping shopper behaviour.
‘Still, January shows that momentum is possible. As retailers look to build on a steadier start to the year, those who can deliver value, experience and convenience will be best placed to turn tentative steps into returning footfall. After a long nine months of negative footfall, and a near flat January, some retailers will be brave enough to hope for growth [in February].’
Scotland saw the strongest year-on-year growth in footfall, up 5.1%, with Northern Ireland seeing growth of 3.8%. By contrast, footfall fell across the rest of the UK, falling by 1.4% in England and 2.8% in Wales.
‘Although footfall edged down in January compared to a year earlier, it was much better than the disappointing Christmas period. The best performing cities were in the north, where shopper traffic was hit badly by severe storms last year, and retail parks also recorded positive growth, as customers made the most of free parking to shop in person during the January sales,’ says Helen Dickinson, BRC ceo.
