Footfall improves in January as shoppers seek out bargains - BRC

(Sharecast News) - Retail footfall softened slightly in January, industry data showed on Friday, although the pace of decline was a notable improvement on December. According the latest BRC-Sensormatic footfall monitor, total UK footfall fell 0.6% in January year-on-year, as stormy winter weather kept shoppers at home. However, it was a notable improvement on the previous month's 2.9% slide.

Leading the rebound were retail parks, where footfall rose 1.1% following a 2.5% fall in December. Shopping centres were also stronger, with footfall down just 0.8% compared to December's 5.1% slump.

However, shoppers continued to avoid high streets, where footfall compounded December's 0.9% decline and fell 1.9%

Andy Sumpter, retail consultant, EMEA, at Sensormatic, said: "January offered a welcome reset. Shopper traffic remained in negative territory, but the dial moved in the right direction, marking a clear improvement on December and the wider golden quarter.

"Some of this uplift will have been driven by savvier spending behaviours, as consumers took advantage of new year promotions and sought out value after a stretched festive period."

However, Sumpter acknowledged that Storm Goretti had "put a dampener on activity...disrupting travel and suppressing visits - a reminder that weather can play an outsized role in shaping shopping behaviour".

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: "Although footfall edged down, it was much better than the disappointing Christmas period.

"An uptick in consumer confidence and possible signs of a footfall recovery offer some cautious optimism for some Spring-like green shoots."