According to British Retail Consortium (BRC) chief executive Helen Dickinson, despite retail footfall being severely impacted by riots earlier in August, the numbers improved later in the month as warmer temperatures prompted shoppers outdoors to browse stores.

The BRC – Sensormatic IQ data for four weeks from 28 July to 24 August 2024, revealed that total UK footfall decreased by 0.4% in August year-over-year (YoY), up from -3.3% in July:

• High Street footfall decreased by 0.3% in August (YoY), up from -2.7% in July.
• Retail Park footfall increased by 2.6% in August (YoY), up from -0.8% in July.
• Shopping Centre footfall decreased by 1.8% in August (YoY), up from -3.9% in July.
  

  ‘Broken’ business rates system needs improvement

  BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson explained: “As violent disorder erupted across the country earlier in the month, footfall was severely impacted as many people stayed away from shopping destinations. Retail parks saw footfall levels rise in the week following the riots as some continued to avoid high streets and shopping centres.”
  

  However, Dickinson noted that footfall recovered across all destinations towards the end of the month when warmer weather and summer sales prompted shoppers to browse their favourite stores, emphasising that while year-on-year footfall changes improved for July, it still remained in “negative territory.”

  She pointed out that local communities need the Government to implement its high streets plan to help drive footfall back into growth.

  Dickinson views the upcoming budget as an “opportunity” to move forward with the plan to fix the broken business rates system which she believes acts as a “brake” on retail investment, and contributes to declining high streets, leading to so many store closures up and down the country.

  End-of-August footfall increase as inflation eases, back-to-school season returns

  Meanwhile, Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, on the other hand believes that a strong footfall performance in the second half of August was helped by an “easing” of price inflation, fair weather, and a boost from school and bank holiday trade. This, he highlighted, lead to the year-on-year shopper traffic to rise its highest levels since July 2023.
  
  

  Sumpter concluded: “With all destination types improving on July’s visitor numbers, retail parks, which potentially picked up shopper traffic from town centers during riot disruption, had a standout month. Retailers will be hoping that the resilience seen in August, with footfall tantalisingly close to returning a positive year-on-year performance, will lead to longer-term growth for store traffic.”

  By Just Style