UK retail footfall declined 4.7% year-on-year in October, a sharper fall than the 2.9% drop recorded in September, as stormy weather and mounting household financial pressures kept shoppers away, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic.
High streets hit hardest
High streets bore the brunt of the downturn, with visits falling 5.2% year-on-year, deteriorating from a 3% decline in September. Retail park footfall slipped by 3.6%, while shopping centres recorded a 4.1% drop compared with the same period last year.
Regionally, overall footfall was down 3.1% in Northern Ireland, 4.3% in Scotland, 4.6% in England and by 6.3% in Wales.
Consumer confidence and costs
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: "Footfall fell sharply in every part of the UK in October.
"Low consumer confidence was likely a key factor in the decline in visitors, as households navigated rising inflation and high energy costs.
"Of all destinations, high streets were hit the hardest, as the stormy weather led many consumers to stay home or use locations with easy parking options."
Dickinson called for government action on high street safety, noting the need to make shopping destinations safe for shoppers and retail staff. She highlighted positive signs that police are cracking down on organised crime and repeat offenders, but stressed the importance of the Government granting police the powers promised in the Crime and Policing Act.
Golden Quarter pressure
Andy Sumpter, head of consulting and analytics at Sensormatic, said: "Halloween delivered a brief seasonal uplift, but beyond that, retailers found little to celebrate.
"The month's performance suggests that shoppers are continuing to prioritise essential spending, leaving discretionary retail expenditure under pressure despite the arrival of the Golden Quarter.
"Attention now turns squarely towards the Black Friday period, which increasingly looks like a critical opportunity to inject some momentum into a Golden Quarter that has so far struggled to live up to its name."
