Huq Industries’ latest footfall report encompassing over 2,700 retail centres reveals nuanced trends in retail centre visitation across the UK, highlighting regional variations in footfall, dwell time, and weekday visitation for week 42, 2024.
High Streets & Town Centres Daily Footfall
Regional Analysis
In Scotland, the average daily footfall slightly increased week on week, including modest year-on-year growth. The average visit dwell time in Scotland showed a slight decrease from the previous week but an overall increase compared to the same period last year.
Wales experienced a notable increase in average visit dwell time which was also a significant rise year on year. However, the region saw a decrease in footfall compared to last year reflecting a challenging environment for retail centres there.
London showed a robust increase in footfall year on year, accompanied by an increase in dwell time, indicating consumer confidence across the capital’s retail’s High Streets and Town Centres.
The North West and West Midlands also demonstrated positive trends, with footfall and dwell time both showing double-digit growths year on year. Specifically, the West Midlands saw an increase in footfall and a rise in dwell time, suggesting a much-welcomed rebound in retail activity.
Conversely, the East Midlands and South East regions faced some challenges, with the East Midlands experiencing a drop in footfall year on year and the South East seeing a decline, highlighting regional disparities in recovery.
Top Performers and Declines
The data also identifies top performers and areas facing declines. Seaford in Lewes, Sevenoaks, and Crawley are among the top performers with significant increases in footfall, while Dunstable, South Shields, and Lewisham have seen notable declines.
Market Outlook
This comprehensive overview by Huq provides valuable insights for retailers and commercial real-estate companies, helping them understand and adapt to the evolving market dynamics across different UK regions. The next four weeks are likely to see continued trends based on the direction of the latest data and historical patterns observed during the same period last year.
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