Footfall across the UK fell last month after December’s heavy rain pushed shoppers online, the latest data by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic IQ shows.
Total footfall dropped 5% in the five weeks to December 30, down from a 1.7% fall in November, dragged down by a 7.4% plummet in shopper numbers in Shopping centres.
Retail parks experienced a 4.8% fall in footfall, while high street saw shopper numbers sink 4.2% over the Christmas period.
British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “December’s heavy rain left many shoppers reluctant to brave the elements, who instead opted to browse online before making final purchases, or shop online altogether.
“This led to a substantial decline in footfall levels compared to December 2022, when there was significant pent-up demand for in-store shopping post Covid-restrictions.
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“Some cities, such as Edinburgh, bucked the trend, and saw footfall levels rise in December thanks to recent investment in new, exciting shopping destinations.”
However, BRC’s footfall data is a stark contrast to the latest research from analyst firm MRI Software.
Footfall across the UK is said to have increased 6.1% last month on November’s figures, boosted by a flurry of festive events and attractions.
On a yearly basis, footfall across all retail destinations edged up 0.2% including a 1.2% rise on high streets.
Boxing day delivered a much-needed boost to the sector, with footfall 4% higher across the UK than in 2022.
Central London experienced the biggest rise, with shopper numbers surging 10.6% year-on-year.
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