November footfall sees uptick as inflationary pressures ease

Footfall throughout the month of November saw a 0.7 percent year-on-year decrease, according to new data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Yet, while the drop was notable, it still came as an improvement on October, during which footfall fell a moderate 5.7 percent over the month.

In terms of specific locations, high street footfall dropped by 1.7 percent YoY for November, up from the 4.6 percent drop in the month prior, while shopping centres also saw a decrease of 2.2 percent, a notable increase on the previous 7.3 percent.

Retail parks experienced less of a hit, as footfall fell 1.1 percent, an improvement on October’s 4.3 percent decrease.

Wales was the least impacted out of UK nations, with just a 0.4 percent drop in footfall, while Scotland saw a YoY drop of 0.9 percent.

Black Friday footfall rises 52.4 percent

England’s footfall fell 1 percent, however this was trumped by Northern Ireland’s 4.9 percent drop.

In the report, it was noted that discounting events had proved to be a “major draw”, with footfall on Black Friday rising 52.4 percent week-on-week.

Speaking on the results, Helen Dickinson, CEO of the BRC, credited “a slight uptick in consumer confidence, as well as easing inflationary pressures and more predictable weather” as elements that bolstered footfall.

Dickinson added: “The extensive cost-pressures on the retail industry over the last two years have limited investment and driven up prices at many shopping destinations.

“The Chancellor’s failure to commit to a business rates freeze in his recent Autumn Statement will inflict hundreds of millions of pounds in additional costs. This will inevitably slow the decline in inflation, as well as limiting long term investment and limiting any upside from improvements in UK footfall.”