Period covered: August 24Published: August 30, 2024Read time: 1min

Footfall Monitor

Footfall Monitor: Despite riot disruption retail footfall holds up in August

Helen Dickinson OBE | Chief Executive | British Retail Consortium

As violent disorder erupted across the country earlier in the month, footfall was severely impacted as many people stayed away from shopping destinations. Retail parks saw footfall levels rise in the week following the riots as some continued to avoid high streets and shopping centres. Footfall recovered across all destinations towards the end of the month when warmer weather and summer sales prompted shoppers to browse their favourite stores.

Andy Sumpter | Retail Consultant – EMEA | Sensormatic

Despite the unrest at the beginning of the month, a strong footfall performance in the second half of August, helped by an easing of price inflation, fair weather and a boost from school and bank holiday trade, saw year-on-year shopper traffic rise to its highest level since July 2023.  With all destination types improving on July’s visitor numbers, retail parks, which potentially picked up shopper traffic from town centres during riot disruption, had a standout month.  Retailers will be hoping that the resilience seen in August, with footfall tantalisingly close to returning a positive year-on-year performance, will lead to longer-term growth for store traffic.