UK footfall decreased by 5.0% year-on-year in December, down from -0.7% in November, according to new BRC-Sensormatic IQ data.
Of the UK nations, Scotland saw the least significant year-on-year drop in footfall, showing a decrease of 2.2%. Northern Ireland saw a year-on-year drop in footfall of 4.7%, followed by England and Wales, both at 5.8%.
The data shows High Street footfall decreased by 4.2% year-on-year in December, down from -1.7% in November, while Shopping Centre footfall decreased by 7.4% year-on-year in December – down from -2.2% in November.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “December’s heavy rain left many shoppers reluctant to brave the elements, who instead opted to browse online before making final purchases, or shop online altogether. This led to a substantial decline in footfall levels compared to December 2022, when there was significant pent-up demand for in-store shopping post Covid-restrictions.
“Some cities, such as Edinburgh, bucked the trend, and saw footfall levels rise in December thanks to recent investment in new, exciting shopping destinations.”
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, added: “One of the wettest Decembers on record combined with dampened consumer confidence and ongoing spending caution meant some retailers may have been left disappointed in last month’s footfall performance.
“While we saw festive glimmers of shopper traffic peaks in and around discounting days, such as Boxing Day when footfall improved +39.2% week-on-week, many may have been waiting for a last-minute Christmas trading rush that never came.”
