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UK retail footfall growth has increased at the fastest rate for 11 years, according to figures from Ipsos Retail Performance.
The global retail and footfall consultant’s latest Retail Traffic Index, which is derived from the number of individual shoppers entering over 4,000 non-food retail stores across the UK, found that retailers benefited from a 3.7% rise in footfall in July.
July started strongly, with footfall in the month’s first week at its highest peak since the final week of 2014. This continued throughout the month, culminating in the last week of July being the busiest week of the year so far.
Average weekly footfall jumped 10.9% on June, the strongest summer increase since 2006.
Meanwhile, all five regions of the UK secured year-on-year growth for the first time since January this year. Footfall growth on 2014 was highest in Northern England for the fifth consecutive month.
Month-on-month increase in footfall was felt strongest in Wales and the South West areas, which both benefited from being popular summer holiday destinations.
Tim Denison, director of retail intelligence at Ipsos Retail Performance, said: “Following a disappointing June, it’s apparent that retailers are right back on track this month. Shops got busier and busier as July rolled on.
“The good weather not only helped promote a feel good factor across the country, but also led to a rapid response from shoppers. The sun it seems was more effective than any set of strong economic indicators.
“We’ve seen real wage growth now for nine consecutive months, and currently it is at its highest rate since before the financial crisis, yet all it has taken is a bit of British sunshine to get everyone back out more regularly on the high street.”
