// The UK’s footfall figures are the strongest among the major European economies
// A rise in consumer activity shows retail park footfall is almost back at pre-pandemic levels
The latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have revealed that the UK’s footfall figures are the strongest across the major European economies.
Putting 2020 to one side and comparing the most recent numbers to the figures from 2019, the BRC data showed that UK footfall decreased by 13.7 per cent during October (Yo2Y), well above the three-month average decline of 16 per cent.
This was ahead of Spain (-19.8 per cent), Germany (-26.1 per cent), Italy (-34.6 per cent) and France (-34.9 per cent), for the same four-week period (October 3 – 31).
The data also showed a 3.2 per cent uplift in the UK, compared to this September’s figures.
Looking at the figures in more detail revealed that retail park footfall is almost back at pre-pandemic levels thanks to the attractive offer of larger stores and free parking, with numbers tracking just 0.4 per cent behind the same period in 2019 (1.2 per cent above last month and above the three-month average decline of 1.4 per cent).
READ MORE: Food inflation to accelerate towards Christmas, BRC says
Footfall on the UK’s high streets declined by 18.3 per cent (4.3 per cent above last month and above the three-month average decline of 21.8 per cent), while shopping centres continue to struggle, with footfall down by 33.6 per cent (2.6 per cent points above last month and just above the three-month average decline of 34.3 per cent).
“It was great to see the UK leading the way for footfall in October among the major European economies,” stated the chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, Helen Dickinson OBE.
“This gives more retailers a reason to be hopeful as we enter the crucial golden quarter, with many embracing both digital and physical connections with their customers, and indicates that retail is playing a key part in the economic recovery.”
She continued: “While many UK cities have seen a significant rise in footfall in recent months, the largest cities – London, Birmingham and Glasgow – continue to lag behind other areas.
“Lower tourism levels, more working from home and lower usage of public transport due to Covid have disproportionately affected these cities as a result, as well as holding back shopping in city centres across the UK.”
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