UK retail footfall rose by 3.1% last week compared with the previous week, driven by increased activity on high streets as the Christmas trading period intensified, MRI Software has found.Between 7 and 13 December, high street visits increased by 5%, while shopping centres recorded a 2.2% uplift. Footfall at retail parks was flat overall, showing no change week on week.
The overall increase came despite declines on Sunday, when footfall fell by 9.7%, and Tuesday, when it dropped by 6.2%. Tuesday’s fall was attributed in part to poor weather in some parts of the UK, which temporarily discouraged travel.
Footfall rebounded later in the week, rising by 10.7% on Monday and 11.5% on Thursday, with high streets accounting for much of the growth. Central London recorded a 4.2% increase compared with the previous week and was up 7.1% year on year. In contrast, historic towns and market towns saw annual declines of 3.3% and 3% respectively.
Shopping centres followed a similar pattern to high streets, with visits peaking on Thursday at 10% above the previous week. Retail parks experienced sharper falls on Sunday, down 8.6%, and Tuesday, down 5.7%, followed by modest growth on other days that was insufficient to lift weekly totals.
Compared with the same week last year, overall footfall was 0.5% lower. This reflected year-on-year declines of 3.1% in shopping centres and 1.6% in retail parks, partially offset by a 1.3% increase in high street visits.
The figures come as retailers enter the final phase of Christmas trading, with schools and many offices set to break up for the holidays. Footfall is expected to rise further towards the weekend as shoppers turn to last-minute gift purchases and festive food shopping.
