Footfall boosted by August’s hot weather
Retail footfall unexpectedly turned around in August as shopping destinations benefited from people taking staycations due to the month’s record high temperatures.
Figures from footfall specialist Springboard show that the number of visits to UK retail destinations in the month was 13.2% below 2019
levels compared to 14.2% down in July.
Footfall strengthened in high streets and shopping centres to -15.1% and -17.5% respectively compared to three years ago but worsened in retail parks to -4.5%.
Springboard said it is expecting a traditional dip in footfall from August to September as children return to school.
Diane Wehrle, marketing and insights director at Springboard, explained: “The magnitude of the dip from August to September in 2019 was -3.3%, and as the euphoria of a hot and sunny summer ends and the anticipation of austerity awaits, we anticipate that the drop in footfall from August to September this year will be at least equal or even greater than this.”
Photo credit: Georgia Hawkins
