Retail footfall plunges ahead of Christmas holidays - BRC

Britain's retail industry called on the government to support troubled businesses during the latest lockdown after visits to stores almost halved in the crucial months before Christmas.

Footfall dropped 48.4% in the final three months of 2020 - known as the golden quarter - from a year earlier, the British Retail Consortium-ShopperTrak survey showed.

Shopping was hit by a second, partial English lockdown in November. After a promising start to December, shopper numbers tailed off as the government introduced a tougher fourth tier of Covid-19 measures and tightened restrictions generally.

Footfall fell 46.1% in December from a year earlier. The figure was 19 percentage points better than November during lockdown but was a blow to stores during what should be their busiest time. Footfall dropped 43.4% in all of 2020.

With non-essential stores forced to shut again under the strict lockdown that started on Wednesday many retailers are in danger of going under, the BRC said. The government has not put a time limit on the shutdown, as it battles to vaccinate people against Covid-19 and curb rocketing infection rates.

Helen Dickinson, the BRC's chief executive, said: "Now that all parts of the UK are effectively in lockdown and with social distancing measures expected to continue well into the new year, ‘non-essential’ stores will be unable to trade their way back to recovery. A third lockdown will be one too many for some businesses."

Dickinson said rents were weighing heavily on retailers unable to trade from stores and that a return to paying full business rates in April would be a further blow if carried out.

"The government must urgently reassure those businesses hardest hit by the pandemic that they will receive vital financial support in the form of an extension to the coronavirus business rates relief,” she said.

High streets were the worst-hit part of the industry with a 49.5% drop, followed by a 47.3% drop at shopping centres and a 17.3% dip at retail parks.