UK retailers continue slow recovery from coronavirus outbreak

UK footfall decreased by 42.1% in July, an improvement from June’s -62.6%, according to research from the BRC and ShopperTrak.

There was better news across all shopping destinations. Footfall on high streets, for instance, declined by 47.5% year-on-year, compared with June’s -64.5%. The reopening of pubs and restaurants did not have a significant impact over the course of the month, however.

Retail parks saw footfall decrease by 22.4% YoY, compared with June’s -33.8%. Wider open spaces, a higher proportion of supermarkets and larger stores quicker to reopen helped to shelter them from a steeper decline.

Shopping centre footfall, meanwhile, dipped by 48.1% YoY in July, improving on June’s -68.3%. They were the most negatively affected location, partly due to enclosed spaces making social distancing more of a challenge.

July was the first full month in which physical shops were allowed to open in all parts of the UK, although some have closed again in areas such as Leicester, where local lockdowns are the order of the day after public health officials voiced concern at alarming rises in Covid-19 cases.

Helen Dickinson , Chief Executive at the British Retail Consortium, says: “While retailers will welcome the improvement in footfall across all shopping destinations, it remains well down on pre-coronavirus levels.”

“The reopening of pubs, cafes and restaurants has also provided some additional footfall to many high streets, including a small boost to local retailers. It remains too soon to say how well retail will recover in the coming months, but it clearly remains a difficult trading period for many physical retailers.”

With retail footfall recovering slower than in many other European countries, much will depend how fast consumer demand returns, Dickinson observes. Retailers, for their part, have put in place a variety of measures to keep shoppers and staff safe, from regular cleaning and hand sanitiser, to one-way systems and perspex screens at tills.

She concludes: “We now need government to play their part by providing clear plans for schools, transport, and office working, all of which impact the way we shop. The safety of the public is a top priority and we believe clear communication will help build public confidence and help bolster local high streets and shopping centres during the summer months."