Welsh retailers saw footfall fall by 3% year-on-year in September, according to the Welsh Retail Consortium, with shopping centres and retail parks both recording declines. The drop was steeper than the 1.3% fall recorded in August.
Regional and national comparisons
Shopping centre footfall decreased by 5% while retail park footfall fell 3% on a year earlier. Northern Ireland was the only UK nation or region to experience a rise, up 2.1%, while Scotland saw footfall down 0.7% and England down 3.4%. The biggest decline was in the north of England, down 4.9%. Cardiff experienced a 4.5% year-on-year fall.
Retailers under pressure
Sara Jones, head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, said: "Despite a strong start to the month, buoyed by back-to-school spending and the bank holiday, footfall in Wales fell by 3% year on year in September, a steeper decline than the 1.3% recorded in August."
She added: "The picture was weaker across key Welsh destinations with shopping-centre footfall falling by 5% year on year and retail-park footfall down 3%. The fall came as unsettled weather and subdued consumer confidence made for a challenging backdrop, with many households continuing to think carefully about discretionary spending as prices at the petrol pump and household energy bills ticked upwards."
Jones said the year-on-year decline in footfall more than doubling from August's rate is "concerning", particularly for shopping centres and retail parks, and leaves retailers under added pressure heading into the "golden quarter" of Christmas trading.
Business rates concerns
Jones described the Welsh Government's decision to increase the business-rates multiplier for the largest properties, while cutting rates for small retail, leisure and hospitality firms, as "deeply worrying". She said: "Many of the retailers affected are anchor stores which draw people into our town and city centres and support the wider businesses around them. Loading further costs onto these stores risks hitting them hardest at precisely the time we need them investing in places, jobs and the future of our high streets."
Economic factors weigh on shoppers
Andy Sumpter, head of consulting and analytics for Sensormatic, which carried out the research, said: "September saw Welsh retail footfall remain under pressure, with total visits down -3.0% year-on-year. This marks the seventh month of decline in the first nine months of the year, highlighting the persistent challenges facing retailers despite periods of resilience."
He added: "While temperatures remained above seasonal norms, the weather was less of a factor in shopper behaviour this month. Instead, broader economic concerns appear to be weighing more heavily on consumers, with inflation, household budgets, fuel costs and uncertainty ahead of the Autumn Budget all contributing to a cautious spending mindset."
As retailers enter the golden quarter, Sumpter said the focus shifts towards driving footfall and spend during the industry's most important trading period, with businesses across Wales hoping seasonal events and festive trading encourage more shoppers back into stores.
