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Drab December Caps Second Consecutive Yr of Declining UK Retail Footfall

Drab December Caps Second Consecutive Yr of Declining UK Retail Footfall
06
Jan

THE WHAT?  UK retail footfall in 2024 declined by 2.2% in comparison with 2023, marking the second consecutive 12 months of decline, in line with BRC-Sensormatic information. The historically busy Golden Quarter noticed footfall drop by 2.5% year-on-year, with December figures down 2.2%, regardless of a slight restoration from November’s steeper 4.5% decline.

THE DETAILS For the 5 weeks between November 24 and December 28, 2024, UK retail footfall noticed combined outcomes throughout completely different sectors:

  • Excessive Avenue: Down 2.7% year-on-year in December, recovering from a 3.7% decline in November.
  • Retail Parks: Footfall was unchanged at 0.0% year-on-year in December, an enchancment from November’s 1.1% drop.
  • Purchasing Centres: Declined by 3.3% year-on-year in December, bettering from November’s 6.1% fall.

Throughout the 4 nations, footfall dropped year-on-year: Scotland (-1.5%), England (-2.1%), Wales (-2.6%), and Northern Eire (-5.8%).

THE WHY? Helen Dickinson, CEO of the British Retail Consortium, famous that outdated enterprise charges proceed to hinder funding in excessive streets. Sensormatic’s Andy Sumpter urged retailers to innovate in 2025 to maximise gross sales alternatives and adapt to declining foot visitors.