Retail footfall across the UK experienced a 4.5% year-on-year (YoY) decrease in November 2024, as traffic to stores continued to weaken ahead of the key holiday shopping period, according to data from BRC-Sensormatic.
The downturn is a sharp decline from the 1.1% decrease seen in October.
Retailers are pinning their hopes on the festive season to reverse these trends, though the timing of key events such as Black Friday fell outside the November reporting period.
During the four weeks from 27 October 2024 to 23 November 2024, high street locations were particularly affected, with footfall dropping by 3.7% – slightly worsening from the decline of October’s 3.6%.
Shopping centres also faced challenges, with a 6.1% decrease in footfall compared to the previous year, reversing October’s 1.6% decline.
Retail parks registered a 1.1% fall in footfall YoY, which contrasts sharply with the 4.8% increase seen in October.
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By GlobalDataAcross the UK nations, Northern Ireland experienced a 2.8% decrease, England saw a 4.2% drop, Scotland’s footfall declined by 6.8% and Wales faced the most significant reduction at 7.1%.
British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Footfall took a disappointing tumble in November, as a later-than-usual Black Friday and low consumer confidence meant customers were hesitant to hit the shops. Some northern cities also suffered particularly badly due to Storm Bert, which caused travel disruption towards the end of the month. Retailers remain hopeful that the Black Friday and Christmas sales will help to turn around the declining footfall seen through most of 2024, crucial as we enter the ‘golden quarter’.
“Retail not only contributes to the economy of local areas but is essential to everyday life in communities across the country. New costs bearing down on retailers in 2025, including rises in employer National Insurance, [the] National Living Wage and packaging taxes, means investment in jobs, stores and high streets will likely be curtailed. If the government wishes to bolster footfall and the growth and investment that would come with it, it must help retailers mitigate the impact of the £7 billion additional costs they face from next year.”