UK retail footfall loses momentum after initial rush - Springboard

UK retail footfall grew last week but was unable to sustain the double-digit growth seen in the first week following reopening on 4 July.

According to researcher Springboard, retail footfall rose 4.5% last week from the week before. This was less than half the 10.6% jump recorded during the reopening of hospitality and leisure businesses in England at the start of July.

Footfall at high streets and shopping centres - up 6.8% and 4.7% respectively - accounted for most of the rise. Footfall at retail parks, meanwhile, fell 0.7%.

On the year, footfall was down 40.2%, which is the most modest decline since the start of the coronavirus lockdown in March.

Diane Wehrle, Insights Director at Springboard, said: "Last week demonstrated that the longed for flood of shoppers returning to bricks and mortar destinations and retail stores once again became a trickle, with a week on week rise in footfall that was less than half that in the previous week.

"Despite the limited rise in footfall, the year on year result is at its most modest yet, which does provide a glimmer of hope for the struggling retail industry."