Retail Footfall Growth Slows As Face Coverings Become Mandatory

Springboard data shows that retail footfall increased by 2.8% last week as face coverings became mandatory in stores - a lower rate than in the previous week.  

During the week prior - in which face coverings became mandatory in shops and supermarkets from Friday (24th July) - retail footfall increased by 4.4%.  

UK high streets saw a 6.1% rise in footfall on the Sunday at the start of the week but rainy weather on Monday contributed to a 15.7% decline on the week prior.  Shopping centres fared better with a 3.3% decline and retail parks saw only a 0.3% drop on the same day.

In England, retail footfall increased by 2.5% while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland experienced growth of more than 4%.

Overall, UK high streets experienced a 4.3% rise compared with the prior week.  Retail parks and shopping centres saw growth of 1.4% and 1.2%, respectively.

Compared with 2019 figures for the same period, UK retail footfall has declined by 37.6%.

Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said: “The first week of the mandatory wearing of face coverings in retail stores in England did not deliver the hoped for uplift in footfall, with a rise over the week across the UK that was virtually half of that in the week before.”

Source : Springboard and Insight DIY Team

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