With summer seeming over and Back-to-School arriving, there were (almost) no surprises in the latest seven-day footfall numbers. Nationally, footfall across 7-13 September dipped 3.3% week-on-week, in line with seasonal trends, according to the latest MRI Software figures.
Shopping centres were hit hardest (-5.8%), followed by retail parks (-2.6%) and high streets (-2.3%).
But wait. There was one surprise in the numbers package. Despite a four-day tube strike across much of Greater London, the capital’s resilient commuters battled through with Central London office hubs showing footfall actually rose 1.7% week on week and by 2.9% year on year as workers have seemingly learned how to find alternative travel options.
Nationally, the Sunday-Saturday week was split in two, with sharp footfall declines early on (Sunday-Thursday averaging -9.3% and -4.9% respectively). Then there was a late-week rebound in shopping centres and retail parks (+2% and +2.6%), while high streets slipped.
Regionally, city centres outside London ticked up 0.5%, while coastal towns fell sharply, down 10.1%, signalling the end of the holiday season.
Year-on-year, levels also remained 1.5% lower driven by a 2.5% decline in high street visits. Shopping centres also noted a 2% drop whereas retail parks saw an uplift of 1% “which could suggest that consumers are starting to prepare for autumn and stocking up on home décor from some of the larger stores found on retail parks”, the report said.
“As temperatures fall, this shift could extend to fashion retailers, with demand for autumn and winter clothing likely to strengthen”, it added.
