UK retail footfall sharply declined in December 2023, dropping 5% YoY, a significant contrast to November's 0.7% decrease. High street footfall decreased by 4.2%, worsening from November's 1.7% drop. Retail parks and shopping centres also faced sharper declines in December compared to the previous month. Retail parks saw a 4.8% YoY decrease (vs. 1% in November), while shopping centres experienced a significant 7.4% YoY decline (compared to 2.2% in November), according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) - Sensormatic IQ.
The British Retail Consortium who represent the majority of British store groups have called on the government to rethink business rates, which they say put pressure on retail prices, as well as block new investment in our town and city centres in response the treasure have said we have backed our businesses by taking one third of properties out of paying business rates altogether. Despite this move the decline continues as many shoppers now make their purchasing online.
The British Retail Consortium who represent the majority of British store groups have called on the government to rethink business rates, which they say put pressure on retail prices, as well as block new investment in our town and city centres in response the treasure have said we have backed our businesses by taking one third of properties out of paying business rates altogether. Despite this move the decline continues as many shoppers now make their purchasing online.
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00:00 Yeah, I mean I think the high street stays are numbered really. I think it's inevitable
00:06 with everything moving more and more online. I think it's a real pity because there's a
00:10 social aspect to the high street and I think we'll lose that.
00:14 Parking needs to be better and cheaper or better public transport, people getting in
00:18 and out, maybe lower the business rates.
00:21 We've sent our camera teams out across the country to discuss the state of Britain's
00:26 high streets. It's a pretty grim picture for traditional retail at the moment as footfall
00:31 sharply declined in December 2023, dropping 5% year on year. That's a significant contrast
00:39 to November's 0.7% decrease. High street footfall decreased by 4.2% worsening from November's
00:47 1.7% drop, while shopping centres experienced a significant 7.4% year on year decline compared
00:55 to 2.2% in November. That's according to the British retail consortium Sensomatic IQ.
01:03 More now from people on the situation in their part of the world.
01:07 Yeah, Newport's quite bad at the moment I think. You know, they've done all of Friar's
01:11 Walk but as soon as Debenhams went, it all sort of went really.
01:16 I probably would prefer to shop online, although it can be hard sometimes with like sizing
01:23 and stuff.
01:24 I do shop online so it sounds hypocritical but high streets, the government should do
01:29 more to promote the regeneration of high street shops.
01:33 You've got rents as well, they're charging a lot of the rents of any day.
01:38 I don't think there's anything you can do is there? Because everything's online now
01:42 isn't it?
01:43 A lot of people say well, when they get something online, they have to send it back because
01:50 it's not quite, doesn't quite fit. If you go in the shop, you can try it on. It just
01:55 makes so much sense to me to go and, you know, keep the shops open.
02:00 I prefer shopping in person. It's cheaper. And if you buy something that you're not sure
02:07 of, it's easier to send it. You bring it in and get a refund.
02:13 Too many vacant properties and I think landlords and councils should come together, right,
02:21 to bring more small businesses into these premises and maybe give them help with the
02:26 rent and the rates.
02:27 I know it is across the board but it's just a shame Newport used to be such a bumping
02:32 place to be and yet now it's the ugly sister between Cardiff and Bristol.
02:37 The British Retail Consortium, who represent the majority of British store groups, have
02:41 called on the government to rethink business rates, which they say put pressure on retail
02:46 prices as well as block new investment in our town and city centres.
02:50 In response, the Treasury have said we have backed our businesses by taking one third
02:54 of properties out of paying business rates altogether.
02:57 Well, despite this move, the decline on our high street continues as many shoppers now
03:02 make their purchases online.