UK footfall falls 4.7% in October, Wales hit hardest

UK shopper footfall fell 4.7% in October from a year earlier, worsening from a 2.9% decline in September, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium and Sensormatic. Wales recorded the steepest fall among the four UK nations, while high streets had the largest decline among shopping destinations. Visits to high streets were down 5.2% year on year, compared with a 3% fall in September. Shopping centre footfall dropped 4.1%, and retail parks recorded a 3.6% decline. The national breakdown showed footfall down 6.3% in Wales, 4.6% in England, 4.3% in Scotland and 3.1% in Northern Ireland. The figures are from the same BRC and Sensormatic reporting, rather than separate measurements. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said low consumer confidence, inflation and high energy costs were likely factors in the decline. She said stormy weather led some shoppers to stay home or choose destinations with easier parking. The figures do not establish how much each factor contributed. Sensormatic’s Andy Sumpter said Halloween brought a brief seasonal uplift, but shoppers continued to prioritise essential spending, putting discretionary retail expenditure under pressure. He said...