Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

High street is leading the way in retail recovery - Bira

High street is leading the way in retail recovery - Bira
Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images
Getty Images

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) said a recent report by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) showing that footfall had decreased for shoppers has a "glimmer" of hope for the high street.

The BRC-Sensormatic IQ Footfall Monitor report for June showed that footfall slowed during the June heatwave.


However, the footfall on the high street increased slightly by +0.6 per cent (YOY) which was up from 0.5 per cent in May.

The report showed that:

  • Total UK footfall decreased by -1.9 per cent in June (YoY), up from -2.8 per cent in May. This is worse than the 3-month rolling average, which improved to -1.1 per cent.
  • High Street footfall increased by +0.6 per cent in June (YoY), up from -0.5 per cent in May. This is worse than the 3-month rolling average, which improved to +1.1 per cent.
  • Retail Parks saw footfall decrease by -2.6 per cent in June (YoY), up from -4.1 per cent in May. This is worse than the 3-month rolling average, which improved to +1.8 per cent.
  • Shopping Centre footfall decreased by -4.2 per cent in June (YoY), up from -4.8 per cent in May. This is worse than the 3-month rolling average, which improved to +2.9 per cent.

"Footfall is down and we do need government support but the high street is leading on retail recovery as this report shows that business parts and shopping centres are still low when it comes to shoppers," said Jeff Moody, Commercial Director of Bira.

"The decrease in footfall reflects the ongoing impact of changing shopping patterns and the influence of external factors such as the weather. Figures for June show that the year-on-year footfall data indicated an increase during the early months of the year, with January showing a notable increase compared to the previous year, followed by February and March with smaller yet positive increases.

"The trend then shifted negatively in May, displaying a decrease compared to the previous year, which persists in June, with the Footfall index down -1.9 per cent on June 22.

"There is some positive news for Independent retailers in that the high street footfall showed some improvement of .6 per cent whilst the Retail Park Footfall dropped 2.6 per cent in June and Shopping Centre Footfall dropped a massive 4.2 per cent in June.

"Whilst we know the cost of living is impacting heavily on retail shopping figures , we feel action now by the government to change the cumbersome burden of business rates which are crippling struggling retailers at present, would aid investment in the sector which could lead to rejuvenated High Streets which is where most consumers wish to spend their money," he added.

Helen Dickinson OBE, BRC Chief Executive, said: “Footfall was down on June last year as the hot weather meant that people opted to enjoy the outdoors. Shopping patterns are still finding a new balance, as the high cost of living is affecting people’s habits and choices. We saw fewer visits to shopping centres and retail parks than last year. But High Street locations were busier and footfall in major cities also improved, thanks to an increase in international tourism.

“The UK is the only European destination without tax-free shopping: Government must capitalise on the uptick in tourism by reintroducing VAT relief for overseas visitors to boost the UK’s attractiveness compared to other destinations and stimulate spending. Government should also seek to mitigate the impact of the slew of cost pressures continuing to bear down on the industry, including new regulation and an inflationary whack to business rates next spring.”

More for you

Jisp unveils new NPD service

Jisp unveils new NPD service

Retail technology company Jisp has launched an NPD service as part of its new Direct to Retailer business unit.

The new NPD service will allow brands to launch or trial new products in a guaranteed number of convenience store locations, with on the ground review of execution by Jisp’s retail growth manager team, and performance data and insights deliverable through its scanning technology and back-office systems.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tesco launches price cuts in Express convenience stores
File image of Tesco Express

Tesco launches price cuts in Express convenience stores

Tesco is slashing the price of more than 222 own-brand and branded products in its Express convenience stores.

Essentials including milk, bread, pasta and coffee are included in the lines which have been reduced in price by an average of more than 10 per cent at Tesco Express stores. The retail giant has made more than 2,800 price cuts across stores in recent months. With 2,048 of convenience stores at the end of the 2023-24 financial year, Tesco aims to benefit hundreds of thousands of customers from the cheaper deals.

Keep ReadingShow less
vape and cigarette
Photo: iStock

One in five ex-smokers in England now vape, study finds


Summary
1. One in five people who have successfully quit smoking in England currently vape, with an estimated 2.2 million individuals using e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool.
2. The increase in vaping among ex-smokers is largely driven by the use of e-cigarettes in quit attempts, with a rise in vaping uptake among people who had previously quit smoking for many years before taking up vaping.
3. While vaping may be a less harmful option compared to smoking, there are concerns about the potential long-term implications of vaping on relapse risk and nicotine addiction. Further research is needed to assess the impact of vaping on smoking cessation outcomes.


Keep ReadingShow less
Bira engages with Treasury on Budget fallout, business rate reform
(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Bira engages with Treasury on Budget fallout, business rate reform

Independent retailers association Bira has held a meeting with members of the Treasury team to discuss concerns following its robust response to the Government’s recent Budget announcement.

The Budget, labelled by Bira as "devastating" for independent retailers, was met with widespread indignation from Bira members.

Keep ReadingShow less
East of England Co-op achieves 70 per cent productivity boost with Electronic Shelf Labels

East of England Co-op achieves 70 per cent productivity boost with Electronic Shelf Labels

East of England Co-op said it has improved labour productivity whilst improving customer service delivery in-store with an Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) solution from Pricer, the leading in-store automation and communication solutions provider.

Established in 1861, East of England Co-op is now the largest independent retailer operating in the East of England. In addition to the 120 food stores it operates in the region, the regional cooperative also offers customers specialist services, such as funerals, security, travel agents and petrol filling stations across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.

Keep ReadingShow less