Despite snowy weather and Storm Eowyn causing disruption in some areas, total UK footfall increased by 6.6% in January (YoY), up from -2.2% in December, according to the British Consortium’s Sensormatic data.
It found that high street footfall increased by 4.5% last month (YoY), an increase from -2.7% in December.
Footfall increased YoY in all four UK nations, with Wales improving by 8.5%, England by 7.4%, Northern Ireland by 3.5%, while Scotland improved by 1.0%.
Helen Dickinson chief executive of the British Retail Consortium said shopper footfall received a welcome boost in January following a disappointing festive period: “Store visits increased substantially in the first week of the month as many consumers hit the January sales in their local community.”
Andy Sumpter retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic commented: “The challenge for retailers will be solving the next conundrum; how they balance enhanced footfall – which requires optimised store staffing to convert into sales – and the significant rises to labour costs borne out of the Budget on the one hand, with consumer appetite for discounts - a long-term margin-eroder - on the other, which will not be an easy circle to square.”
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