Retail footfall hit after Storm Babet batters high streets - BRC

Retail footfall fell sharply in October, industry data showed on Friday, as heavy rainfall across the UK kept shoppers at home.

According to the latest BRC-Sensormatic IQ Footfall Monitor, total UK footfall fell 5.7% year-on-year in October, compounding September’s 2.9% decline.

Within that, high street footfall was down 4.6%, while retail parks and shopping centres saw declines of 4.3% and 7.3%, respectively.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: "Umbrellas were up as heavy rainfall descended across the UK in October, leading many shoppers to stay at home.

"As inflationary pressures on households begin to ease, some people are shopping around slightly less, braving the rain only to make their final purchases."

However, she added: "While consumer confidence may be higher than 2022, it is still very weak. The economic landscape remains tough, with input prices and cost pressures above normal levels."

Andy Sumpter, EMEA retail consultant at Sensormatic Solutions, said: "Shopper traffic regionally [was] impacted by Storm Babet, which delivered the most severe and widespread disruptive weather of the year to date.

"The ongoing cost-of-living pressure continues, despite inflationary easing.

"As we head into the critical Christmas purchasing period, the focus [for retailers] must be on optimising their online presence or creating engaging experiences that can entice passing trade in store to be converted into sales."

Shore Capital said October had been a “pretty poor month”. Looking ahead, it continued: “The start of November has been conditioned by Storm Ciaran, which may be a nudge to an online channel, but has done little to encourage folks out to shops.

“Higher base rates are limiting interest to bigger ticket retailers, especially where credit is an assistance to sale.

“Meanwhile, geopolitics does not seem to be assisting the consumers’ mood, with a step back in UK sentiment evident following the break out of events in Israel/Gaza.”