// Footfall across UK shopping destinations fell by 56.6% throughout the month of June, Springboard says
// This is an improvement on the 73.3% year-on-year decline recorded in May
// Footfall for the week starting June 15 jumped by 40% against the previous week, but then it slowed for the remaining month
Retail footfall for June more than halved against the same month last year as shopper demand remains low despite the “turning point” of reopening thousands more stores.
New figures from retail experts Springboard revealed that overall footfall across UK shopping destinations fell by 56.6 per cent throughout the month of June compared to the same month in 2019.
However, the organisation said this reflected green shoots of improvement in the sector as it improved from the 73.3 per cent year-on-year decline recorded in May.
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Springboard said the reopening of non-essential stores in England on June 15 was a “turning point” for retailers.
Norther Ireland had already started to exit lockdown from June 12, while Wales started to reopen on June 22 and Scotland from June 29.
Footfall across all retail destinations for the week starting June 15 jumped by 40 per cent against the previous week, as shoppers lined up go to their favourite fashion stores.
The pent-up anticipation to shop again resulted in the significant spike, but footfall in the subsequent two weeks “slowed considerably”, Springboard said.
“Long queues coupled with a restricted shopping experience due to social distancing could be the contributing factors to this sudden drop off in footfall,” Springboard insights director Diane Wehrle said.
“This is concerning for the economic recovery path of bricks and mortar retail who are heavily reliant on customer experience.”
In June, footfall was still particularly low on high streets, with many customers refraining from travel into city centres.
High street footfall declined by 65.1 per cent for the month, with footfall in London particularly badly hit, nosediving 80.8 per cent lower compared to last June.
Meanwhile, footfall at shopping centres slid by 62.3 per cent for the month
Retail parks were more resilient, as they reported that footfall declined by 32.2 per cent as they continued to benefit from the presence of large supermarkets and on-site parking.
“This is a sharp contrast with high streets and shopping centres which rely on a blend of shoppers, workers, students, tourists and residents to fuel spending,” Wehrle said.
“The fact that much of the workforce continues to work from home, tourists and many students are absent, as well as the government urging consumers to only use public transport for essential travel, means that footfall and therefore sales, will continue to be compromised in these retail destinations.”
with PA Wires
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