UK retail footfall decline eases but lockdown continues to hurt sector

(Alliance News) - The annual decline in UK retail footfall eased in February, numbers on Friday ...

Alliance News 5 March, 2021 | 5:04AM
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(Alliance News) - The annual decline in UK retail footfall eased in February, numbers on Friday showed, though the drop was still steep as the country remained in lockdown.

According to the latest British Retail Consortium-Sensormatic monitor, UK retail footfall dropped 74% in February. This was a lesser decline than January's 82% drop, but was the second-worst fall since May.

In high streets, footfall dropped 68% year-on-year in February. This was a worse showing than the average three-month decline of 61%.

In retail parks, footfall dropped 35% annually in February, compared to the three-month average drop of 29%.

While at shopping centres, footfall tumbled 76% in February, steeper than the three-month average drop of 64%.

"Footfall remained down by three quarters during the second full month of lockdown. Shopping centres continued to suffer the most due to their high proportion of 'non-essential' retailing, whereas retail parks benefitted from the presence of large essential retailers such as supermarkets and health stores," BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson commented.

"While footfall improved slightly due to slowing Covid infections boosting consumer confidence, it will be a difficult time for retail until businesses are permitted to reopen in April."

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak in Wednesday's budget statement said the business rates holiday for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will continue until the end of June.

Sunak also set out a new Recovery Loan Scheme to replace previous coronavirus financing packages, allowing businesses of any size to apply for loans from GBP25,000 up to GBP10 million through to the end of the year, with the UK government providing lenders with an 80% guarantee.

Dickinson added: "Retailers welcomed the chancellor's extension of key business funding schemes in Wednesday's budget. Nonetheless, the real challenge will arise in April, as tens of thousands of 'non-essential' retailers hold their breath to see if demand returns to stores."

By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

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