UK retail footfall jumps in January, despite wintery weather
By Abigail Townsend
Date: Friday 07 Feb 2025
(Sharecast News) - Retail footfall jumped in January, industry data showed on Friday, as shoppers braved winter weather to hit the January sales.
According to the latest BRC-Sensormatic footfall monitor, total UK footfall increased by 6.6% last month, comfortably reversing December's 2.2% decline.
All types of destinations saw an uptick in footfall, led by retail parks and shopping centres.
Footfall had been flat in December in retail parks, but jumped 7.9% in January, while shopping centres saw a 7.4% increase following a 3.3% decline a month earlier.
On high streets, footfall rose by 4.5%, compared to a 2.7% dip in December.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: "Store visits increased substantially in the first week of the month, as many consumers hit the January sales.
"Despite snowy weather and Storm Eowyn causing disruption in some areas, footfall was still positive across major UK cities over the whole month."
Andy Sumpter, EMEA retail consultant for Sensormatic, said: "After a dreary December, retailers will welcome January's footfall jump.
"The uptick was boosted by a very strong first week, helped in part by New Year's Day falling on a Wednesday, which may have prompted ambient store traffic as consumers bolted on additional days of leave.
"While welcome, after months of erratic and constrained footfall, the jury's out as to whether January's store performance signals the start of a high street revival or if it will be flash in the pan come February."
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