Total UK retail footfall increased by over 10 per cent last month compared to February 2022, with High Street and shopping centres outperforming retail parks, according to new research by the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

The overall rise, however, was around two per cent worse than January, and worse than the three-month average of 12.8 per cent, the association said.

High Street footfall increased by 17.8 per cent – 2.4 per cent worse than in January – and shopping centre footfall rose by 11.7 per cent but was 0.7 per cent worse than January’s rate.

Footfall in retails parks fell by 3.3 per cent compared to February 2022, but was 0.2 per cent better than January’s rate.

Commenting on the findings, Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: “Growth in footfall slowed this month after the rush of Christmas shopping and January sales. Some people are making fewer visits as the cost of living continues to bear down ahead of the April energy price rise.”

Compared with pre-pandemic levels, the BRC found that total footfall was 8.8 per cent lower; High Streets by 7.7 per cent, retail parks by 2.7 per cent, and shopping centres by 23.3 per cent.

Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, who conducted the research on behalf of the BRC, said that while footfall fluctuations are less volatile, it doesn’t mean that footfall recovery has “yet turned a corner”.

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