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October footfall saw a “noticeable improvement” to -13.4% lower than in 2019 compared with -17.4% in September, according to the latest figures from Springboard.
The final week of the month, which included the October school half term, was “pivotal” in boosting footfall, shifting the average from -14.3% over the first three weeks to -10.9% in the last week of the month.
It added that in the final week of the month, it was high streets and shopping centres that benefited most. Footfall in high streets strengthened from an average of -15.8% over the first three weeks to -12.1% in the last week, and in shopping centres footfall shifted from -21.5% over the first three weeks to -15.9%.
In contrast, in retail parks footfall in overall terms has bounced back far more to pre-Covid level, however, during half term week the gain was more modest, from an average over the first three weeks of -3.2% to -2.7% in the last week of the month.
UK city centre footfall also improved in October, which Springboard said is in the continued absence of overseas tourists, suggesting that “the drift back to the office is accelerating”. Footfall in Central London moved upward from -32.2% in September to -22.2% in October, and in regional cities outside of the capital, footfall in October reached -15.7% below the 2019 level from -19.3% in September.
Diane Wehrle, marketing and insights director, said: “Whilst footfall is recovering, the vacancy rate remains high at 11.7% which is only a very marginal improvement from July when it was 11.8%.
“This is despite the growth of pop-up stores that are a typical feature of retail destinations in the run up to Christmas, but which should be even more prevalent now given the greater availability of empty space.”
She added: However, this is not a surprising outcome as the vacancy rate is both a lagged and sticky indicator. The complexities of the leasing market and the heavy burden of business rates hinders the reoccupation of empty units whilst also often forcing unviable retailers to continue to trade, highlighting its limitations as the sole indicator for determining bricks and mortar retail performance.”
