Footfall strengthened across retail destinations in August, driven by better weather conditions
Footfall grew by 1% to 13.2% behind 2019 levels in the four weeks to August 27, according to the latest data from Springboard.
Improvements in footfall were seen at both shopping centres and high streets, which strengthened to -17.5% and -15.1% respectively when compared with the pre-pandemic period.
Footfall at retail parks fell, however, to -4.5% – down from -1.7% in the same month last year.
The rise in footfall was largely due to consistently hotter weather in August, which encouraged staycations and retail activity.
Many shoppers also took a long-awaited holiday in the month of August, which had already been paid for or deferred, therefore encouraging pre-holiday spending.
Springboard said the boost to footfall may be shortlived, however, with an expected dip during the September back-to-school period, which has occurred every year since records began in 2009.
Springboard marketing and insights director Diane Werhle said: “UK footfall in August at -13.2% below 2019 was better than anticipated given the recent rise in inflation and the impending impact on households of the increase in energy costs, so it seems that the headlines around the increasing cost of living are not yet deterring people from spending.
“Indeed, the continuous heat in August clearly encouraged people to take staycations, which fuelled activity in retail destinations. Also, many consumers took a much longed-for and deferred summer holiday during August – many of which will have been paid for last year or even the year before – driving pre-holiday spending and creating what might be seen as the ‘last hurrah’ before the rise in the energy price cap kicks in during October.
“Looking forward to September, we are expecting the traditional dip in footfall from August as schools go back, which has occurred every year since Springboard started publishing its footfall data in 2009.
“The magnitude of the dip from August to September in 2019 was -3.3% and, as the euphoria of a hot and sunny summer ends and the anticipation of austerity awaits, we anticipate that the drop in footfall from August to September this year will be at least equal to or even greater than this.”
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