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Get your free copy16 January 2017, 06:15 AM
- The festive period contributed to high street footfall rising for the first time in five years, according to figures from Springboard and the British Retail Consortium
The high street was the only type of location to see an increase in footfall, up 0.8 per cent on December last year.
Although it proved a successful period for the British high street, footfall in retail parks and shopping centres fell by 0.7 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively.
Overall footfall in December was down 0.2 per cent on a year ago, making it the fourth consecutive month of decline. This was a far more shallower fall than in December 2015 though, when it dropped 2.2 per cent.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium said, “Overall, December saw a continuation of the downward trend in footfall, with shopper numbers falling 0.2 per cent over the previous year. It was a more positive story for the high street, which saw a modest bounceback with positive growth for the first time in December since 2011, after managing to draw in last minute shoppers.
“Solid festive sales did not translate into a lift in footfall above last year as online continues to grab the lion’s share of growth. Ecommerce accounted for nearly a quarter of all purchases in December, suggesting that more shoppers than ever opted to go online rather than hit the shops.
“Retailers are having to gear themselves up to meet the evolution in shoppers’ requirements from bricks and mortar destinations. This will be key looking ahead, with inflation set to rise and a subsequent squeeze on disposable income; the environment for consumer spending will become increasingly competitive.”
