UK retail footfall ends September on a high note

UK retail footfall saw a “strong rebound” last week (21-27 September), both week on week and year on year, according to specialist tracker MRI Software. 

Overall visits to UK retail destinations rose by 5.4% last week compared to the week before driven by a 7.7% surge in high street activity which was boosted by double-digit increases on Sunday (+22.3%), Wednesday (+10.8%) and Saturday (+12.4%). 

This may well be due to the back-to-university period as students got ready for the new term. It was also reflected by a 9.4% uplift in regional cities outside of London week on week. Market and historic towns also noticed rises of 8% and 6.2%, respectively.

MRI said retail parks and shopping centres saw an increase in visits week on week, however they were only modest at 2.5% and 3.6%, respectively. But both destination types saw steady increases daily as shopping centres followed a similar trend to high streets with activity peaking on Sunday (+6.8%), Thursday (+3.8%) and Saturday (+6.9%). The lift at the end of the week could have been all about payday weekend, providing shoppers with the chance to begin shopping for Halloween/the festive season. It seems the countdown to the Golden Quarter is under way.

Year on year, visits to UK retail destinations increased by 4.4%, probably due to good weather as a year ago, heavy rain and floods dampened the appetite for shopping.

This time, high streets led the charge once again with activity rising by 5.8%, followed by retail parks (+4.2%) and shopping centres (+1.9%). Central London (+8.3%) saw a strong lift in annual visits driven by increased activity on Thursday and Friday averaging +13.2% which could reflect an increase in the number of events taking place in the capital including the final dates of the Oasis tour. 

Importantly too, the months’ final week looked strong, raising hopes that October may be good too.