MRI: Retail Saw A Welcome Footfall Lift Last Week

The latest data from MRI Software reveals that last week’s heatwave and payday weekend delivered a welcome lift to UK retail destinations, with footfall rising +1.5% week on week, driven by shopping centres (+3%) and retail parks (+1.7%).

Friday and Saturday stole the show, with late-day surges with shopping centres seeing footfall soar +7.1%, much of it post-5 pm, while retail parks and high streets climbed +4.5% and +4.1%, respectively.

City centres came alive as Central London rose +4.7% and regional cities +2%, fuelled by a packed calendar of events and exhibitions. Meanwhile, coastal and historic towns cooled off, suggesting the holiday crowd is retreating.

Week 26 – SUN-SAT

Last week’s heatwave provided all UK retail destinations with a modest boost in footfall with week on week rises recorded in high streets, shopping centres and retail parks. 

A week of two halves emerged with modest declines interspersed throughout the week in all UK retail destinations. However, Friday and Saturday emerged as the strongest days coinciding with payday weekend and the peak of the heatwave. 

Central London and regional cities outside of the capital witnessed the largest week on week rises in footfall which may well be a nod to a large number of events and exhibitions taking place across the country. Office dense locations within the capital also benefited from a boost in visitor activity. In contrast, coastal towns saw a dip as did historic towns suggesting the holiday season may be over for now. 

Footfall rose by +1.5% in all UK retail destinations last week from the week before. This was largely driven by a +3% rise in shopping centre visits followed by retail parks (+1.7%). 

The increase in high street activity was much more marginal at +0.6% and was likely influenced by a -1.6% decline in activity from Sunday to Tuesday. Retail parks also witnessed a modest dip averaging -1.6% from Tuesday to Thursday. All of this was short lived as the weekend neared and temperatures soared which also coincided with it being payday weekend; shopping centres witnessed a significant boost averaging +7.1% on Friday and Saturday with much of the uplift occurring post 5pm, whereas retail parks and high streets saw rises of +4.5% and +4.1%, respectively.

As events and exhibitions season peaked last week, so did footfall in Central London (+4.7%) and regional cities outside of London (+2%) compared to the week before. MRI Software’s Central London Back to Office benchmark also revealed a +1.7% week on week uplift. Following a surge in visits to coastal towns in the week before last, there was a modest drop of -1.9% in footfall last week for seaside locations. 

Compared to 2024, high streets experienced a modest drop of -2.4% whereas retail parks and shopping centres saw much more marginal declines of -0.7% and -0.8%, respectively. As a summer of sport and music events kick off this week, it’s a great opportunity for retail leaders to maximise on elevated footfall levels in many towns and cities across the UK, and also ensure they’re prepared operationally, especially for those in leisure and hospitality. 

Week 26 – MON-SUN

Last week’s heatwave provided all UK retail destinations with a modest boost in footfall with week on week rises recorded in high streets, shopping centres and retail parks. 

A week of two halves emerged with modest declines interspersed throughout the week in all UK retail destinations. However, Friday and Saturday emerged as the strongest days coinciding with payday weekend and the peak of the heatwave. 

Central London and regional cities outside of the capital witnessed the largest week on week rises in footfall which may well be a nod to a large number of events and exhibitions taking place across the country. Office dense locations within the capital also benefited from a boost in visitor activity. In contrast, coastal towns saw a dip as did historic towns suggesting the holiday season may be over for now. 

Compared to 2024, high streets experienced a modest drop whereas retail parks and shopping centres saw much more marginal declines. As a summer of sport and music events kick off this week, it’s a great opportunity for retail leaders to maximise on elevated footfall levels in many towns and cities across the UK, and also ensure they’re prepared operationally, especially for those in leisure and hospitality.

Source : MRI Software

Image : Cunaplus_M.Faba / iStock / 1087671624

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