Springboard reports a steep decline in footfall
Between 29 September and 26 October, the UK Footfall decline of 3.2 per cent year on year was steeper than September and both the 3-month and 12-month averages, according to footfall analysts Springboard.
On the High Street, pedestrian traffic saw a steeper rate of decline than September, at 4.9 per cent, steeper than the three-month average decline of 2.8 per cent.
Retail Park Footfall declined for the first time in 5 months, with -0.5 per cent, below the 3-month average of 0.2 per cent.
And shopping Centre Footfall declined by 2.4 per cent in October, which was a slight improvement on the 3-month average of 2.6 per cent.
Diane Wehrle, Springboard marketing and insights director, commented: “The drop in footfall of -3.2 per cent was the worst result for October in seven years. Whilst it can’t be regarded as a purely pre Brexit breakdown as the weather also played a part, the prevailing political uncertainty must be having a considerable impact on activity given the low level of consumer confidence.
“When confidence is low it doesn’t take much to deter shoppers and the torrential rain in the last week of the month hit footfall particularly hard, resulting in a drop over those seven days of -6.2 per cent.
“All three destination types – high streets, shopping centres and retail parks – were impacted by a much greater drop in the last week of the month than in the previous three. But by far the worst result came from high streets where footfall declined by -7.4 per cent, which is not unexpected given their exposure to the elements. Indeed, the significant impact on high streets was felt across the board geographically, with footfall declining in all but one area and in four areas (Greater London, the South East, North & Yorkshire and Wales) the drop was in excess of -5 percent.
