February fail as rain wrecks havoc on UK physical retailers

UK total footfall decreased by 2% in February year-on-year, below both the three and 12 month average increases of 0.8% and 0.3% respectively.

High streets, retail parks and shopping centres all posted declines as multiple storms took their toll, according to research by the BRC and ShopperTrak.

Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant at ShopperTrak, comments: “While January saw shopper levels on the high street boosted by the ‘Boris Bounce’, February was a different story. Named the wettest February on record, we also had three named storms, which all arrived over weekend trading, and certainly dampened shopper traffic levels.”

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the British Retail Consortium, says: “There was a slight boost in footfall in the final week of February, where concerns around coronavirus may have contributed to an increase in store visits.”

“With the right investment in our communities, local retail will thrive. All eyes will be on the upcoming business rates review, promised in the budget, and how effectively it can relieve the business rates burden. This would allow more money to be invested back into people, property and technology.”