According to BRC-Sensormatic data, total UK retail footfall decreased by -4.5% in November (YoY), down from -1.1% in October. High street footfall decreased by -3.7%, retail park footfall by -1.1% in November, and shopping centre footfall by -6.1%.
Footfall decreased YoY for all four nations, with Northern Ireland falling by -2.8%, England by -4.2% and Scotland by -6.8%, while Wales experienced the biggest decline at -7.1%.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), says: “Footfall took a disappointing tumble in November, as a later-than-usual Black Friday and low consumer confidence meant customers were hesitant to hit the shops. Some northern cities also suffered particularly badly due to Storm Bert, which caused travel disruption towards the end of the month. Retailers remain hopeful that the Black Friday and Christmas sales will help to turn around the declining footfall seen through most of 2024, crucial as we enter the 'golden quarter'."
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, comments: “Retail store visits dipped in November as consumer confidence remains volatile, perhaps not helped by post-Budget spending jitters and shoppers withholding festive purchases, opting instead to shop around for the best prices or hold out for further discounting.
"This lacklustre footfall performance will have come as a blow for many retailers, who would have been counting on getting early Christmas trading results under their belts before the start of advent. However, it’s worth noting that these figures do not include Black Friday and the Saturday of the Black Friday weekend – tipped as one of the top busiest days for store shopping during peak trading – which will hopefully jump start seasonal shopping.
"Now, all eyes turn to December, where retailers hope to make up for lost ground and turn around their festive fortunes. This will rely not only on effective merchandising and shored-up inventory availability, but on building the compelling and immersive experiences that bring the seasonal magic to life in-store.”
