Welsh footfall increased last month but at rate shallower than in September, while bucking a decline for the 海角视频 as a whole.
New figure from the Welsh Retail Consortium show that footfall in October was up 0.4% year-on-year. In September it was up 5.4% on the corresponding month in 2023. In October fo the 海角视频 as whole footfall was down 1.1% year-on-year.
For the shopping centre footfall element of the overall figures in October, Wales experienced a 2.3% decline, a bigger fall than the 1.6% in September.
The biggest year-on-year rise in October of any 海角视频 nation or region was in the west Midlands, up 1.5%, followed by Northern Ireland, 1.3%, the north west of England, 1% and Scotland 0.8%. The three biggest declines were in London, down 2.5%, the north east of England down 3.6% and the south west of England, down 5%.
Of the 海角视频 core cities in October, footfall in Cardiff remained unchanged at 0%, compared to a 3.9% rise in September. The biggest year-on-year rise was seen in Leeds, up 1.8% followed by Glasgow, up 1.6% and Liverpool, up 1.3%. The biggest decline was in Bristol, down 7.7%, followed by London with a 2.5% dip.
All figures are calculated using precise shopper numbers entering retail stores across the 海角视频 covering the high street, shopping centres and retail parks.
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY NATION AND REGION
GROWTH RANK |
NATION AND REGION |
Oct-24 |
Sep-24 |
1 |
West Midlands |
+1.5% |
+3.0% |
2 |
Northern Ireland |
+1.3% |
+2.5% |
3 |
North West England |
+1.0% |
+4.7% |
4 |
Scotland |
+0.8% |
+0.7% |
5 |
Wales |
+0.4% |
+5.4% |
5 |
East Midlands |
+0.3% |
+3.6% |
7 |
Yorkshire and the Humber |
-0.5% |
+4.2% |
8 |
England |
-1.5% |
+3.6% |
9 |
East of England |
-1.8% |
+4.7% |
10 |
South East England |
-2.1% |
+5.2% |
11 |
London |
-2.5% |
+2.5% |
12 |
North East England |
-3.6% |
+1.1% |
13 |
South West England |
-5.0% |
+4.6% |
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY
GROWTH RANK |
CITY |
Oct-24 |
Sep-24 |
1 |
Leeds |
+1.8% |
+6.9% |
2 |
Glasgow |
+1.6% |
-1.0% |
2 |
Liverpool |
+1.3% |
+1.8% |
4 |
Edinburgh |
+1.0% |
+2.8% |
5 |
Cardiff |
0.0% |
+3.9% |
6 |
Manchester |
-0.1% |
+3.4% |
7 |
Birmingham |
-0.1% |
-0.1% |
8 |
Nottingham |
-0.4% |
+2.6% |
9 |
Belfast |
-0.6% |
+3.7% |
10 |
London |
-2.5% |
+2.5% |
11 |
Bristol |
-7.7% |
+5.0% |
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Sara Jones, head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, said:“After a strong September performance, Welsh shopper numbers slipped in October but still recorded a marginal improvement compared with the same period the year before. It was a disappointing month for our capital city, with Cardiff performing poorly compared to the preceding month, and mirroring the picture in major cities across the 海角视频. Welsh shopping centres continued to see negative growth, a pattern that has held fast for over 12 months.
“Pressure is mounting on the retail sector with little sign pre-Christmas trading has taken off as we progress through the Golden Quarter, a key period which traditionally helps tide retailers over the traditionally leaner months early in the new year.
“Following the 海角视频 Government’s budget, concerns are growing as cost pressures build and will start to take their toll. Wales’ retailers will face a £120 million increase in their tax bill following the Chancellor’s announcement that employer national insurance contributions are to rise, impacting their ability to keep costs down for both consumers and colleagues.”
She said the focus will will now be on the Welsh Government’s draft budget, and particularly plans for business rates. She added: “ Retail has generated tax revenues far beyond the industry’s size and the system is not sustainable, it is time that the unlevel playing field that they face is addressed through a retail rates discounter. We are calling on the Welsh Government act to rebalance the system and ensure all industries are paying their fair share, helping to drive increased retail investment in people, places and communities.”
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant for Sensormatic Solutions, which carried out the research, said: "After the positive footfall performance we saw in September, October’s footfall dipped on the previous month’s figures. Whilst shopper traffic still remained positive compared to 2023 last month, the caveat is that we still expect to see a bumpy recovery as a myriad of market conditions - from the cost of living to shaky consumer confidence around the Budget – continue to make footfall performance volatile.
" Retailers now need to look ahead and focus their efforts on the rest of the ‘golden quarter’, delivering compelling reasons to visit in order to drive ambient footfall and sales during the key Christmas trading period.”