January sees best overall footfall performance in two years

Retail footfall in January has recorded growth of 1.2% compared with the same month last year – its best performance since January 2014.

That’s according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor which found the increase was significantly above the 2.2.% decline seen in December 2015.

Footfall in retail park locations increase by 5.2% year-on-year, its best performance in two years – well ahead of December’s 2.1% rise and above the three-month average of 3%.

High streets reported their first rise in footfall since July 2013, excluding Easter distortions, and was significantly ahead of December’s 4% decline. Footfall growth in shopping centres was broadly flat during the month.

Meanwhile, the national town centre vacancy rate was 8.7% in January 2016, down from the 9.1% rate reported in October 2015. This is the lowest reported rate since the monitor began in July 2011.

Helen Dickinson,chief executive at the BRC, said: “The improvement in shopper footfall witnessed in January provided a timely and welcome fillip to retailers at the start of the year, with retail parks once again recording a stellar performance.

“Indeed, this was the best overall footfall performance for two years, and well ahead of the three-month average.”