Retail footfall fell in November for the second month in a row, dragged back by a late Black Friday and weak consumer confidence.
The number of visits to stores —including high streets, retail parks, and shopping centres— fell 4.5% in the four weeks to 23 November compared to the same period a year earlier. Black Friday is missing from this year’s comparison due the later date, therefore exacerbating the decline.
It follows a 1.1% drop in October, wiping out a slight recovery experienced at the end of the summer, according to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic.
Sales were down almost 11% in Leeds and about 9% in Cardiff and Glasgow where poor weather contributed to the decline.
“Footfall took a disappointing tumble in November, as a later-than-usual Black Friday and low consumer confidence meant customers were hesitant to hit the shops,” said Helen Dickinson, CEO of the BRC.
“Some northern cities also suffered particularly badly due to Storm Bert, which caused travel disruption towards the end of the month. Retailers remain hopeful that the Black Friday and Christmas sales will help to turn around the declining footfall seen through most of 2024, crucial as we enter the ’golden quarter.’”
Andy Sumpter, a retail consultant for Sensormatic, said consumer confidence remains volatile with shoppers withholding festive purchases. Instead, many are opting to shop around for the best prices or hold out for further discounting.
“This lacklustre footfall performance will have come as a blow for many retailers, who would have been counting on getting early Christmas trading results under their belts before the start of advent.”
He said all eyes will now turn to December, where retailers hope to make up for lost ground and turn around their festive fortunes. “This will rely not only on effective merchandising and shored up inventory availability, but on building the compelling and immersive experiences that bring the seasonal magic to life in-store,” he said.
Morning update:
Heineken is planning to build the Gulf’s first major commercial brewery in Dubai.
Construction will begin before the end of 2025 with the brewery expected to be producing popular beer brands like Heineken, Kingfisher, and Birra Moretti by the end of 2027, it said.
Sirocco, a joint venture between the Dutch brewer and the Dubai state-linked Maritime and Mercantile International, has secured the necessary permits and licences for the project.
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