Retail reopenings across the UK have resulted in a “soft rebound” in the number of visitors returning to shopping locations, during the first full week of trading since lockdown.
Overall footfall in the UK fell 57.2% year-on-year between 15 and 21 June, according to the latest data from the BRC-ShopperTrak footfall monitor.
This marked a slight improvement on the previous week, which posted a 76.2% decline.
Footfall on high streets dropped by 61% year-on-year, up on a 74% decrease in the previous week. High streets were hit particularly hard as pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues remained closed.
Visitor numbers at retail parks fell 26.4%, compared with a 43% reduction during the week before. This is largely because these locations have benefited from a higher proportion of supermarkets and ease of parking.
Shopping centre footfall declined by 63.5% year-on-year, but improved from an 80.7% plunge in the previous week.
Footfall was strongest during the weekdays, with an average year-on-year decline of 52.7%, while the weekend showed weaker footfall with an average decline of 59.8%.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said that an “initial burst of enthusiasm” in the first few days after reopening “quickly gave way to the lower demand which continues to threaten retailers up and down the country”.
She observed that nonetheless, the UK’s rebound has compared “favourably” with other European countries, suggesting that retailer safety measures have been “well received” by customers.
Dickinson added: “There is still a long way to go until consumers return to shopping destinations, particularly shopping centres, as they did before the pandemic.”
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant for the EMEA markets at ShopperTrak, said: “Monday and Friday performed the strongest, demonstrating as we’d indicated earlier that weekend shopping will take time to come back to full strength.
“Social distancing restrictions and a lack of “entertainment” and F&B, including coffee shops, will hurt traffic, particularly in destination shopping centres.”
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