EOHO boosts retail footfall in last week of August

Footfall across all UK retail destinations rose by 6% over the week ended 29 August, according to the latest figures from Springboard. 

The latest figures still marked an annual decline of 26.1%, though this was a “noticeable improvement” against the year-on-year decline of 30.7% the week before. 

In the final week of August, which was the last full week of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, footfall across all destination types was higher than the week before, with shopping centres recording the highest footfall of all. 

According to Springboard, the cooler weather encouraged shoppers inside covered centres, leading to a 9.1 % rise in footfall from the week before. 

In addition, shopping centre footfall was only 25.6% lower than the year before, the “best result” for a retail destination since the onset of lockdown. 

While footfall across high streets strengthened, rising by 4.8% from the week before, Springboard warned their recovery was “hampered by far lower levels of activity in large cities which account for the greatest volumes”.  

According to the data group, high street footfall is beginning to lag behind shopping centres, with footfall still 34.9% lower than last year. 

Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said: “The last full week of the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme led to the most positive footfall result of any week so far with increases in all three destination types from the week before, and year on year declines that were the most modest since the start of the lock down. 

“Not only did the week as a whole yield far more positive results those previously but, given the situation we find ourselves in and the much cooler weather this year, the Bank Holiday weekend proved to be a remarkable success for retail destinations.”