Footfall gap to 2019 widens to -11.1% in Nov despite Black Friday boost

The gap in footfall from 2019 widened in November to -11.1% from -9.8% in October and -12.6% in September; -12.4% in high streets, -17.3% in shopping centres and -3% in retail parks, according to the latest figures from Springboard.

Springboard added that in the absence of Black Friday the gap would have likely widened even further to circa -14%.

Likewise, the uplift from 2021 in November was +4.3% which, in the absence of Black Friday, would have also been suppressed, most likely at just circa +2.5%.

The gap in footfall from 2019 in November remained wider for shopping centres than for high streets (-17.3% compared with -12.4% in high streets respectively), much of which is due to a poorer performance in small to medium sized shopping centres where footfall in November was -20.9% below the 2019 level versus -16.3% below in the largest centres.

Springboard added that it is clear that footfall in many smaller malls “has been adversely impacted by store closures, some of which will have commenced pre-Covid as retailers began rationalising their store networks, which was then heightened during the Covid period when stores closed and did not reopen when all restrictions were lifted”.

Post Black Friday Springboard said it expects to see a lull in footfall over the forthcoming weeks, which is a pattern of activity recorded by Springboard post Black Friday in pre-Covid years.

It said: “There is a six day trading week in the lead up to Christmas Day this year, which suggests that footfall in the week prior to Christmas (from Sun 11 December) will also be muted, as shoppers may well hold out for the last week beginning Sunday 18 December to shop in the hope of benefitting from last minute discounts.”