UK footfall improves in September, down 0.2%

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Oct 19, 2015

Despite footfall in the UK falling 0.2% year-on-year in September, it's still good news to retailers after August's 1.6% fall. The 0.2% decline is also above the 0.9% three-month average.

Retail park locations saw a 4% increase in footfall, the highest figure since January 2014, excluding Easter distortions. Footfall on the high street fell by 1.4% and shopping centres saw a 1.3%. Excluding Easter distortions, this is the high street's best performance in seven months.

Diane Wehrle, Marketing and Insights Director at Springboard, said: “The perfect Autumn weather, additional bank holiday trading day and lowest vacancy rate for two years are key drivers behind relatively pleasing figures for September. The drop in footfall of 0.2 per cent across the UK was the best year-on-year performance since March, and the second best month over the last 17 months. Perfect seasonal weather is vital to high street fashion sales, with over a quarter of retailers we asked (26.8 per cent) confirming that they brought forward store drops of Autumn/Winter stock this season. Together with the additional bank holiday trading day, this boosted overall sales of outerwear and accessories, including footwear.“

"The UK vacancy rate of 9.8 per cent is the lowest on record (since July 2011) and is undoubtedly helping to retain footfall in high streets and shopping centres, and a longer term trend to watch."