Footfall across UK retail destinations rose by +3.7% over the month from May to June, versus just +1.1% over the month from April to May.
Footfall rose annually by +4.2% in June across all UK retail destinations (versus +3.3% in May); by +5.2% in high streets, by +4.4% in shopping centres and by +1.8% in retail parks.
The gap from the pre-pandemic footfall level narrowed to the smallest yet in June, at -8.6% from -10.8% in May.
Footfall has risen over the month from May to June in all but one year since MRI Springboard started publishing its data in 2009 (the exception being June 2016 when footfall declined by -0.1% from May following the Brexit referendum that month).
The month-on-month increase in footfall in June this year of +3.7% was greater than in any June since 2009, exceeding the previous record of +3.4% in June 2013.
High street footfall post 5pm rose by +6.3% from May, versus an increase of +3.6% during daytime trading hours as consumers made evening trips to towns and cities to dine out.
Diane Wehrle, insightsdDirector at MRI Springboard, said: “The high prevailing rate of inflation and the recent increases in interest rates appear not to have yet impacted consumer activity across UK retail destinations, with both the highest month-on-month and annual increases in footfall for June in any year since 2009. Footfall rose by +3.7% over the month from May to June, versus just +1.1% over the month from April to May; it also strengthened against last year, with an annual rise of +4.2% (versus +3.3% in May).
“Furthermore, the gap from the pre-pandemic footfall level also narrowed to the smallest yet at -8.6% from -10.8% in May. Some of this uplift will have been due to seasonal factors, with more light and warmer weather encouraging consumers to visit retail stores and destinations during daytime trading hours and restaurants and bars in the evening. Indeed, footfall has risen over the month from May to June in all but one year since MRI Springboard started publishing its data in 2009 (the exception being June 2016 when footfall declined by -0.1% from May following the Brexit referendum that month).
“However, the surprise result was that (excluding the Covid period) the month-on-month increase in footfall in June this year was greater than in any June since 2009, exceeding the previous record of +3.4% in June 2013. A further boost was provided by consumers making evening trips to towns and cities, enabling food and beverage operators to reap the rewards of shoppers keen to dine out, with high street footfall post 5pm rising by +6.3% from May, versus an increase of +3.6% during daytime trading hours.”
