Wales has experienced the biggest fall in retail footfall of any nation or region of the 海角视频, shows new research from the Welsh Retail Consortium (WRC). In February shopping numbers declined 8% on a year earlier, compared to Scotland where footfall was down 3.2%, England 6.6% and Northern Ireland experiencing a 7.1% decline.
The wettest February on record was partly blamed for falling numbers with all nations and regions of the 海角视频 suffering year-on-year declines.
The shallowest reduction was in Yorkshire and the Humber at 1.4%. The decline in Wales compared to fall of 4.5% in January. The biggest contraction in Wales has felt in shopping centres at 9%, a 5.4% deterioration on January.
The research, carried out for the WRC by consultancy Sensormatic Solutions, also provides an analysis of footfall across the 海角视频鈥檚 biggest cities.
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Cardiff in February experienced a 4.2% year-on-year contraction, slightly improved on January鈥檚 4.6% fall. Of the 11 cities assessed the only growth was experienced in Liverpool, up 1.6%, Leeds 1.3% and Edinburgh 0.2%. Cardiff鈥檚 decline was exceeded in Birmingham (4.4%), Glasgow (4.6%), Nottingham (5%) and London 6.2%.
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY NATION AND REGION
GROWTH RANK | NATION AND REGION | Feb-24 | Jan-24 |
1 | Yorkshire and the Humber | -1.4% | -2.6% |
2 | East of England | -1.7% | -2.9% |
3 | South West England | -2.3% | -1.3% |
4 | North West England | -3.1% | -2.8% |
5 | Scotland | -3.2% | -2.7% |
5 | East Midlands | -3.3% | -2.2% |
7 | North East England | -3.7% | -6.0% |
8 | West Midlands | -3.9% | -1.0% |
9 | South East England | -4.8% | -3.8% |
10 | London | -6.2% | -1.7% |
11 | England | -6.6% | -2.6% |
12 | Northern Ireland | -7.1% | -6.8% |
13 | Wales | -8.0% | -4.5% |
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY
GROWTH RANK | CITY | Feb-24 | Jan-24 |
1 | Liverpool | 1.6% | 1.5% |
2 | Leeds | 1.3% | 1.5% |
2 | Edinburgh | 0.2% | 3.2% |
4 | Bristol | -2.1% | -2.9% |
5 | Belfast | -3.1% | -5.3% |
6 | Manchester | -3.7% | -2.8% |
7 | Cardiff | -4.2% | -4.6% |
8 | Birmingham | -4.4% | -2.6% |
9 | Glasgow | -4.6% | -7.0% |
10 | Nottingham | -5.0% | -5.5% |
11 | London | -6.2% | -1.7% |
Sara Jones, head of the WRC, said: 鈥淔ebruary shopper numbers were down a whopping 8% compared to the same period last year, with a dip of almost 4% on the previous month.
鈥淎fter the January uptick in footfall, the February figures will be of significant concern to retailers right across Wales.
鈥淚t should also signal a warning to all sectors that rely on our high street ecosystem, and indeed the nation as a whole, given retail is often a bell-weather indicator of the health of the wider economy.
鈥淲ith the country on track to record one of the wettest Februarys on record it is highly likely that the weather played a part in deterring customers from our popular shopping destinations, and Valentine鈥檚 Day failed to ignite the spark needed to drive shoppers back to our high streets.
鈥淲ith St David鈥檚 Day and the early Easter holidays, retailers will be hoping that March will restore a spring in the step and give the industry a boost as we move into the second quarter of the year.
鈥淭hat said, there will be a keen eye on the 海角视频 Government鈥檚 Spring Budget in the hope that this will elevate the economic background for consumers which, when combined with continuing falls in the inflation rate, will hopefully encourage people back to the shops.鈥
On the 海角视频 position, retail consultant with Sensormatic Solutions, Andy Sumpter, said: 鈥淔ebruary saw a collision course of disruptive forces negatively impacting store traffic, meaning 海角视频 store visits dipped to their lowest ebb since the pandemic.
鈥淧rior to any energy price cap reduction, and with squeezed spending budgets, the confirmation of the 海角视频鈥檚 鈥榯echnical recession鈥 in 2023 appears to have weakened consumer confidence.
鈥淭he wettest February on record probably didn鈥檛 help, and even Valentine鈥檚 Day, which usually provides a frisson of footfall, failed to woo shoppers into store to the extent it normally does.
鈥淲ith the Bank of England signalling the 海角视频鈥檚 economy may already be recovering from what it describes as a mild recession, retailers will be hoping signs of an upturn will translate into store traffic and spend, with many looking towards the prospect of an early Easter in March to bring about a change of fortunes.鈥
