Retail footfall down 0.7% in December
Retail footfall in the UK edged down 0.7% year-on-year in December but the pace of decline slowed from the 2.4% fall seen in November.
Figures released by the British Retail Consortium and Springboard in their monthly footfall monitor show that the number of shoppers visiting shopping centres was down 0.1% compared to the same month in 2013 while footfall on high streets fell by 1.8%.
Out-of-town retail parks reported the only rise with footfall up 1.3% on a year ago. This meant that out-of-town centres saw footfall growth in every month of 2014.
Helen Dickinson, BRC director general, said: “A fall of 1.8% might not at first glance look like great news for retailers but it’s heartening to see the pace of decline in high street footfall slowing so dramatically from November to December.
“This is undoubtedly a result of the continuing changes in the way we all prefer to shop.
“But it’s worth noting fewer shoppers doesn’t necessarily equal poorer sales, in fact, we know sales have been strong across the Christmas period.”
Only two regions in England reported positive footfall in December. These were the South East and East where footfall grew by 3.4% and 2.2% respectively.
Scotland experienced the biggest rise in footfall with an increase of 1.6% on the previous year. Northern Ireland saw a rise of 1.4% after a 0.7% fall in the previous month, while Wales reported a footfall decline of 0.4%.
Diane Wehrle, retail insights director at researcher Springboard, said: “Footfall across the UK in December belied the prevailing furore over the impact on bricks and mortar stores of both Black Friday and the move to online shopping, with just a modest drop of 0.7% from December 2013.
“Whilst online shopping becomes ever more mature and shoppers are increasingly demanding in terms of choice and flexibility to buy, the improved footfall position of our retail destinations in what is our peak trading period of the year indicates that online is driving activity back into bricks-and-mortar stores.
“As yet it is inconclusive as to the relative influence of showrooming and click and collect in the omni-channel experience but what is clear is that if retailers want shoppers to continue to visit their stores, then ever more investment is required to deliver the heightened shopping experience that is now demanded.”
