Drop in Scottish footfall numbers after three months of growth -SRC

May saw footfall numbers in Scotland 1.8 per cent lower than a year ago, down on the 1.1 per cent rise in April, according to latest figures from the Scottish Retail Consortium.

The data reflected the worst performance since January and was below the UK average of -1.0 per cent.

Across the UK footfall in May was 1.0 per cent lower than a year ago, down from the 0.8 per cent fall in April and below the three-month average of -0.5.

Both high streets and shopping centres reported a decline, falling 1.5 per cent and 2.0 per cent respectively.

Footfall in out-of-town locations fared the best with a 1.4 per cent increase year-on-year, an improvement on the 0.5 per cent rise in April and a continuation of its positive trend.

Three regions reported positive footfall growth, with the greatest rises seen in the East and Greater London.

All three nations reported a decline in footfall in May, with Wales reporting the most notable fall (-4.3 per cent), significantly below the UK average.

David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “The sustained growth in shopper footfall has been one of the economic bright spots over the past year, and so the slight contraction in footfall witnessed in May hopefully owes more to shoppers catching their breath than anything more serious. Indeed, this is the first reported dip in footfall since January and only the third since this time last year. We also have to bear in mind that Scottish retailers are increasingly adept at harnessing the internet and multi-channel innovations to get through to consumers who might not have time to travel to the shops.

“That said, shoppers undoubtedly remain cautious – despite growth in pay outstripping inflation - and retail sales remain humdrum. That’s why we are looking to the Chancellor to use his upcoming Summer Budget to prioritise measures which bolster disposable incomes and consumer confidence.”

Diane Wehrle, marketing and insights director at Springboard, which helped compile the data, said: “The drop in footfall of 1.8 per cent in Scotland is a noticeable downward shift from the increase of 1.1 per cent in April. In line with the UK, it is high streets and shopping centres that drove the decline with drops of 3.6 per cent and 4.4 per cent respectively. Footfall in retail parks in Scotland rose for the 14th consecutive month, although the rate of increase dropped away from 9.5 per cent in April to 5.9 per cent in May.

“Recording an increase in footfall for the past 14 consecutive months averaging 5.8 per cent, retail parks are clearly the winners in the grab for consumers across Scotland’s bricks and mortar retail destinations. This brings into sharp contrast the increase of just 0.1 per cent in high streets and the drop of 1.7 per cent in shopping centres over the same period.

“The success of retail parks is undoubtedly a function of owner driven change that has led to the introduction of a family based leisure offer in many out of town locations that previously fulfilled a purely functional role. This, in combination with plentiful and free car parking has enhanced the attraction of retail parks and improved their efficiency as click and collect locations for the ever increasing number of omni-channel shoppers. The high cost of parking in high streets and shopping centres, together with elongated travel times due to congestion means that urban destinations are at an obvious and increasing disadvantage.”