Retail footfall hit by rail strikes
By Abigail Townsend
Date: Monday 27 Jun 2022
(Sharecast News) - Retail footfall fell last week, industry data showed on Monday, hit by the widespread travel disruption.
According to the BRC-Sensormatic IQ Footfall Monitor, total UK footfall decreased by 3.9% in the week to 26 June when compared to the previous four weeks. The seven-day period saw a series of strikes, with much of the London Underground shuttered on Tuesday, and national rail strikes on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Thursday was the worst-performing day for footfall, down 13.7%, while Tuesday saw it slide 9.4%.
Across individual destinations, footfall on high streets declined 3.3% during the week and fell by 2.2% in shopping centres. Retail parks, however, recorded a 30.3% surge.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: "Commuter traffic was hit, with many working from home to avoid unnecessary travel, impacting already vulnerable city centre businesses reliant on those communities.
"While we hope footfall will bounce back in the following weeks and months, it comes at a difficult time for businesses as costs are continuing to spiral and consumers are tightening their belts."
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant, EMEA, at Sensormatic Solutions, said: "After the buoyant boost to shopper numbers we saw over the Jubilee weekend, last weeks' train strikes threaten to detail retail's footfall recovery."
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