Gradual improvement to UK footfall
Covering the five weeks 27 February – 02 April 2022
Since the pandemic started, much of retail has bounced between being open and closed, impacting footfall significantly. To make meaningful comparisons to changes in footfall, all figures are compared to their pre-pandemic (2019) levels. This means our 2022 figures are year-on-three-years (Yo3Y). However, we have provided year-on-year (YoY) figures in the third table.
According to BRC-Sensormatic IQ data:
- Total UK footfall decreased by 15.4% in March (Yo3Y), a 1.2 percentage point improvement from February. This is better than the 3-month average decline of 15.9%.
- This was ahead of France (-25.5%), Germany (-37.5%) and Italy (-38.6%) in March (Yo3Y).
- Footfall on High Streets declined by 17.8% in March (Yo3Y), 3.1 percentage points better than last month’s rate and an improvement on the 3-month average decline of 19.9%.
- Retail Parks saw footfall decrease by 7.3% (Yo3Y), 5.1 percentage points better than last month’s rate and an improvement on the 3-month average decline of 10.9%.
- Shopping Centre footfall declined by 35.8% (Yo3Y), 4.3 percentage points better than last month’s rate and above the 3-month average decline of 38.9%.
- Northern Ireland saw the shallowest footfall decline of all regions at -14.5%, followed by England at -14.9% and Wales at -18.8%. Scotland saw the steepest decline at -21.1%.
Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief-Executive of British Retail Consortium, said: “March saw another gradual improvement to footfall levels across the UK. As the first full month without coronavirus restrictions in England and Northern Ireland, consumers were able to shop with a greater sense of normality, spurred on by some spring sunshine. While all UK shopping locations enjoyed higher footfall levels than earlier in the pandemic, shopping centres saw a significant improvement for the first time in 2022, as shoppers browsed multiple stores in preparation for the summer season.
“There are many challenges on the horizon as consumer confidence fell to its lowest levels in 16 months. Consumers are now feeling the effects of rising living costs, increased food and fuel prices, and are also anticipating higher energy prices from 1 April. The impact on retail footfall and retail sales across both stores and online is yet to be seen, but as belts continue to tighten and prices continue to rise, it will be a difficult road ahead for consumers.”
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, commented: “As we surpass two years since the first Covid-19 lockdown, we might begin to see where retail footfall trends will settle down as retail resets. With the High Street’s recovery hitting its best performance since October and UK shopper traffic tracking ahead of its European counterparts, retailers’ optimism will be met with a healthy dose of realism. While covid-19 restrictions maybe loosening, the nation’s belts may start to tighten as the impact of the cost-of-living squeeze and price inflation accelerates, and the knock-on effect of the energy cap rise and increased National Insurance contributions this month remain unknown as they look ahead into April and beyond. However, while price sensitivity may be growing among UK consumers, spending and brand loyalty seem to be ‘stickier’ in-store, with our recent research showing over a third were less price sensitive when shopping in-store compared to when they bought items online, and half felt more loyal to the bricks-and-mortar brands they shop with.”
MONTHLY TOTAL UK RETAIL FOOTFALL (% CHANGE ON PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS)
UK FOOTFALL BY LOCATION (% CHANGE ON PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS)
MONTHLY UK RETAIL FOOTFALL (% CHANGE YoY)
| MONTH | ||
| CATEGORY | MAR-22 | FEB-22 |
| TOTAL FOOTFALL | 179.6% | 220.6% |
| HIGH STREET | 129.7% | 148.4% |
| RETAIL PARK | 57.1% | 42.6% |
| SHOPPING CENTRE | 135.3% | 159.8% |
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY REGION (% CHANGE WITH 2019)
| GROWTH RANK | REGION | % GROWTH Yo3Y |
| 1 | North West England | -10.1% |
| 2 | West Midlands | -13.1% |
| 3 | South East England | -13.7% |
| 4 | East of England | -13.8% |
| 5 | East Midlands | -13.9% |
| 6 | South West England | -14.2% |
| 7 | Northern Ireland | -14.5% |
| 8 | Yorkshire and the Humber | -14.7% |
| 9 | England | -14.9% |
| 10 | North East England | -15.2% |
| 11 | Wales | -18.8% |
| 12 | London | -19.7% |
| 13 | Scotland | -21.1% |
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY (% CHANGE WITH 2019)
| GROWTH RANK | CITY | % GROWTH Yo3Y |
| 1 | Liverpool | -3.5% |
| 2 | Portsmouth | -9.2% |
| 3 | Manchester | -9.9% |
| 4 | Nottingham | -15.5% |
| 5 | Birmingham | -16.1% |
| 6 | Belfast | -18.9% |
| 7 | Glasgow | -19.5% |
| 8 | Cardiff | -20.0% |
| 9 | London | -22.4% |
| 10 | Leeds | -24.2% |
| 11 | Bristol | -25.5% |
