Recent data from Huq Industries provides a comprehensive view of footfall trends across various types of retail centres in the UK for Week 36, 2024. This analysis reveals significant regional variations and nuanced consumer behaviours that are crucial for retailers and real-estate professionals to understand and adapt to the evolving market conditions.
Daily Footfall by Retail Centre Type
Local Retail Centres
In local retail centres, the West Midlands experienced a modest week-on-week increase in footfall by 2.6%, while the South West saw a more substantial year-on-year decline. Wales, on the other hand, showed a significant increase in dwell times, indicating a more engaged consumer base.
Major Retail Centres
For major retail centres, Northern Ireland stood out with a remarkable year-on-year increase in footfall. In contrast, the West Midlands saw a slight week-on-week decrease but maintained a positive trajectory year-on-year. London’s dwell time increased significantly compared to the previous year, suggesting that while the number of visitors may not have grown, the quality of visits has improved.
High Streets & Town Centres
London’s high streets and town centres saw a rise in average daily footfall year-on-year, contrasting with a general decline in regions like the East Midlands, which experienced a significant drop. This indicates a strong consumer presence in London, potentially driven by ongoing retail promotions and seasonal events.
Retail Parks
Retail parks showed varied trends, with the South East experiencing a slight week-on-week decrease in footfall but a significant increase in dwell time. Scotland and the North East, however, experienced increases in both footfall and dwell time, suggesting a robust retail environment in these regions.
Shopping Centres
The East of England led with a strong rise in footfall year-on-year, coupled with a significant rise in dwell time. Conversely, the East Midlands saw a notable decline in footfall year-on-year.
Market Outlook
Looking ahead, the direction of the latest footfall data suggests varied trends will continue in the coming weeks. Retailers should monitor these developments closely, using location intelligence companies like Huq to adapt their strategies in near real-time.
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Track consumer footfall and spend dynamics across your store network using Huq data and compare to your own sales data. Gain insights into crucial questions such as ‘are we out-performing the market’, ‘where our similar locations for new store growth’, and ‘how healthy is this retail centre’.
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