Footfall across UK retail destinations rose by +3.3% last week from the week before, according to the latest report from retail analytics specialist Springboard.
Footfall rose by 16.5% on “Freedom Day” itself, but from Tuesday onwards, when the heat intensified, the uplift from the week before was much more modest averaging just +1.7%.
Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard commented: “Following an above average start to the week as a result of “Freedom Day” on Monday 19th July, the growth in footfall in UK retail destinations slowed considerably from Tuesday onwards.
“This is likely to be driven by a combination of the extreme heat, the start of the school summer break, and an increased nervousness amongst shoppers in visiting potentially crowded areas created by the growing “pingdemic” which could force them to self-isolate.
” This is demonstrated by a proportionately greater rise in footfall in coastal towns, and also in the evening post 8pm, when it was cooler but which is the period of the day that accounts for the smallest proportion of footfall and when the vast majority of stores are closed with only hospitality outlets trading.”
