Better weather boosts retail footfall - BRC

Retail footfall rose for the first time in over a year in September, industry data showed on Friday, as shoppers made the most of the mild weather.

According to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium and Sensormatic, total UK footfall jumped 3.3% in September, a notable improvement on August’s 0.4% dip. It was also the first year-on-year increase since July 2023.

Within that, high streets saw footfall increase by 0.9%, retail parks by 7.3% and shopping centres by 2.3%.

In August, footfall fell by 0.3% and 1.8% on high streets and in shopping centres respectively. It rose by 2.6% in retail parks.

Helen Dickinson, BRC chief executive, said: "Mild temperatures combined with weak footfall last year led to strong growth in September.

"It was neither too hot nor too cold for customers, leaving retailers in the sweet spot for additional shopping trips. This compared positively to last year, when the intense heatwave caused many people to stay at home and delay purchases of autumnal clothes and products."

Andy Sumpter, EMEA retail consultant for Sensormatic, said: "Retail parks were once again the standout shopping destination, with their tenant mix of out-of-town supermarkets and discount retail offerings helping to drive shopper traffic.

"This September’s growth is built on last year’s suppressed footfall from September’s 2023 heatwave. While retailers will welcome the boost, hoping that this translates into sales, many will still be eyeing it with caution."

The run up to Christmas - the so-called golden quarter - is the most important time of the year for many retailers.

The monthly BRC-Sensormatic footfall monitor is calculated using shopper numbers entering retail stores across the UK.