// The number of visits to retail locations only declined by 18.6% in August, up from 24.2% in July
// The popularity of staycations and daycations provided a significant boost
New data has shown that August marked a turning point for UK retail footfall as the number of visits to retail locations declined by 18.6 per cent on 2019 levels compared to a drop of 24.2 per cent in July.
Springboard revealed that this was the first time that footfall levels reduced to less than 20 per cent since the start of the pandemic.
In addition to this, both high streets and shopping centres saw the gap decrease to below 25 per cent for the first time with respective falls of 23.5 per cent and 24 per cent, while retail park footfall was only below the level of two years ago at 2.4 per cent.
Springboard said the popularity of staycations and daycations in August provided a significant boost particularly in high streets.
While footfall in Central London in August was 38 per cent below the 2019 level, it marked a major improvement on July when there was a decline of 50.4 per cent.
The improvement in footfall in large cities outside of the capital was nearly double that of smaller high streets, which put them at a comparable level versus 2019 for the first time.
Springboard said the results reflect the findings of its consumer report for August which identified that 89 per cent of consumers felt some degree of comfort in visiting retail destinations and 50 per cent were fully comfortable in making trips.
Springboard marketing and insights director Diane Wehrle said: This boost puts bricks and mortar retail in a good place at what is the start of Q4, leading up to the peak trading period of the year – Christmas. On the basis that nothing untoward occurs and restrictions are not putback in place, it appears to be a reasonable expectation that by the end of the year footfall will be just 10 per cent to 15 per cent below the pre-pandemic level.”
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