UK shopper numbers to jump a fifth after Covid rules lifted

London

SHOPPER numbers across Britain will rise by nearly one fifth this week versus the previous week thanks to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, market researcher Springboard forecast on Monday.

The British government is removing most pandemic restrictions in England from July 19, so-called "freedom day", saying a rapid roll-out of vaccines has largely broken the link between infections and serious illness or death.

The pandemic has hammered Britain's retailers, which were already struggling with high rents and business taxes, tight margins and online competition. Hundreds of store closures and thousands of job losses have been announced.

Springboard forecast that UK shopper numbers, or footfall, will rise by 19.7 per cent in the week to July 24. It forecast week-on-week increases of 32.2 per cent on Friday July 23 and 39.5 per cent on Saturday July 24.

The researcher forecast a 25 per cent rise in weekly footfall on high streets where the removal of social distancing rules will allow higher numbers of customers in restaurants, coffee shops and pubs.

It forecast an 18 per cent rise at shopping centres and a 10 per cent increase in retail parks. However, it expects footfall will still be 20.1 per cent below the pre-pandemic level seen in the same week in 2019.

"With summer holidays commencing and many opting for a summer staycation in the UK, footfall will continue to rise throughout July and into August as many look to enjoy the good weather," said Diane Wehrle, Springboard's insights director.

The July 19 lifting of Covid-19 restrictions applies only to England as the devolved nations in the UK - Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - have been setting their own timetables for easing rules.

However, shopper numbers in England account for around 85 per cent of all footfall in the UK. REUTERS