Shopper visits struggle on
Figures released today by FootFall, add further gloom to predictions for the retail sector with the Retail FootFall Index showing that the number of people shopping in 2006 continues to fall behind 2005 levels.
The latest figures represent the eighth consecutive weekly decline year-on-year, with a week-on-week fall of 2.7%, which is sure to scare retailers further as Halloween approaches.
Natasha Burton, spokesperson for FootFall comments: “The sustained downturn in shopper activity is likely to continue over forthcoming days, but we would expect to see an improvement in the number of people visiting retail destinations over the half-term period as they hit the shops trying to entertain their children over the school break and also to prepare for Halloween.
“Last year, the build up to Halloween provided a real boost to footfall levels, with the number of shoppers increasing by over 13% during the week leading up to 31st October 2005. However, the early introduction of Christmas product lines this year may limit the impact of Halloween for retailers and the continued unpredictability of the weather is doing little to stimulate demand.
“The Department Store Index highlights a similar outlook, with the year-on-year downturn in visitors now at more than 4%. Retailers have a lot of work to do to ensure shopper visits recover for the Christmas period and a lot will be riding on the success of marketing campaigns that are currently being finalised in drawing would-be shoppers into stores.”
