Storm Benjamin impacts weekly footfall, high streets see sharp downturn

Overall footfall across UK retail destinations fell 1.9 percent from October 19 to 25 compared to the week prior after Storm Benjamin impacted activity throughout most of the country.

According to new figures by MRI Software, high streets were hit hardest, with footfall dropping sharply by 6.1 percent. The most significant declines were seen on Sunday and Monday, with footfall dropping by an average of 15.4 percent.

Retail parks and shopping centres were more resilient, MRI said, with recorded week-on-week increases of 1.9 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively. The platform attributed the October half-term holiday to the uptick in activity.

All town types reported a drop in footfall, with market towns seeing the largest impact, declining 6.8 percent on the week prior. Central London saw footfall drop 5.9 percent. On an annual basis, footfall fell 9.2 percent in coastal towns, while activity in market towns fell 8.8 percent.

Annually, overall footfall levels came 4.2 percent lower than the same period last year, driven by a 7.5 percent decline in high street visits, a 1.4 percent drop at shopping centres and a more marginal 0.2 percent decline at retail parks.

MRI concluded: “While weather hit the high street hard last week, the resilient format of retail parks and shopping centres continue to attract shoppers and reinforces the experience, accessibility and diversity pillars of retail performance.”