Heavy Rain Impacts Upon February Retail Footfall

The latest Springboard data has revealed that heavy rain during February contributed to an overall decline of 4.9% in retail footfall figures.

High street footfall declined by 7.8% during February; shopping centres experienced a 2.5% drop, while retail parks saw visits drop by 1.1%. 

Springboard marketing and insights director, Diane Wehrle, said: 

"If further proof of the fragility of high streets were needed, it was provided in February when the impact of the severe and ongoing rain led to a drop in footfall of -7.8%. Whilst an average of 17 days of rain across the UK over the month led to shoppers staying away from high streets, shopping centres and retail parks still appealed to many by virtue of either their covered environment or ease of access and proximity of parking, which in retail parks is free of charge.”

The impact of COVID19 did not factor into February's figures; with Wehrle stating: 

“The month ended before the warning of its increased severity in the UK was made, and so moving forward it is likely that shopper activity will be stemmed as consumers become more wary about interacting in public spaces. Whilst it seems that the first quarter of 2020 will yield yet more challenges for bricks-and-mortar retailers, experience has proven that footfall bounces back quickly once the immediate period of concern has passed.”

Source : Insight DIY Team and Springboard

Image : Jason Batterham - Shutterstock.com (671551474)

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