July footfall shows better-than-expected results for second month running, says Synovate
5 August 2009
UNITED KINGDOM — The Synovate Retail Traffic Index (RTI), the only UK retail metric that shows actual through-the-doors shopper numbers, recorded an encouraging 0.2% year-on-year rise in non-food retail footfall in July and an 8.4% increase on June.
Synovate retail psychologist Dr Tim Denison has analysed the data, "Coming off the back of a better than expected June, July's marginal year-on-year rise in footfall is another small and welcome step forward for British retailing. The faltering market is now pegged, at least in the short term, and this should be confirmed when the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor figures for July are announced next week.
"It is almost as if the whole of the country, not just parliament, is enjoying a summer recess, away from the economic and political battlefields - and this despite even the incessant rain! The benign conditions have helped patch consumer confidence and stop the shopping rot. The summer Sales have played their part in encouraging shoppers to go out and spend and I would say that they have been more effective in this regard than last year, for two reasons. Firstly, the offers have been more limited and genuine, and secondly, in contrast to last summer, retailers appear far more selective and discerning in their approach. There is far less sense that the whole of the high street is on continuous Sale.
"We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves here, or be under any false illusion; the real action will return again in the autumn, when the spectre of public spending cuts, job insecurity and pay freezes reappears to test our resolve. In the meantime though, we can enjoy something of a respite.
"All regions of the UK enjoyed a significant uplift in the number of non-food shopping trips in July compared to June. Best of all, however, was Wales and the South West, where numbers were swelled by domestic holiday-makers and retail footfall was 12.2% higher than the previous month. With news that the weather isn't expected to be kind in August, and reports of renewed and strengthening demand for last minute holidays abroad, the outlook for the month ahead may not be quite so promising for UK coastal, lake and city-break resorts. We are anticipating the RTI to slip back by 0.9% year-on-year in August, but even that near one point downturn is a far better position to be in, than we were at the start of the year."
Enquiries for interviews with Dr. Tim Denison should be directed to Theo Chalmers at Verve PR on 01908 275271 (weekdays) or 07932 004632.
Contact(s) for this press release
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Chris Scoot
Synovate Retail Performance |
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34 Walker Avenue |
Telephone: +44 1908 682 700 |
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Theo Chalmers
Managing Director, Verve Public Relations |
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Park House, 8 Grove Ash |
Tel. +44 1908 275 271 |
Synovate Retail Performance provides footfall monitoring solutions, shopper tracking systems and in-store behavioural research to retailers worldwide. Its core products - Shopper Count, Shopper Interact and Shopper Engage - scientifically measure all aspects of a shopper experience from store entry to exit. It supplies national and international retailers with essential business metrics to drive accountability and performance improvement.
Synovate Retail Performance is home to the Retail Traffic Index series, which for over 10 years has been the industry's leading tracker of national, regional and sector retail footfall trends. It is also co-founder of the KPMG / Synovate Retail Think Tank, offering thought leadership on the state of retail health and the future of retailing.
General information for Synovate Retail Performance, email info.rp@synovate.com
Synovate Retail Performance Limited is registered in England and Wales under number 3552625 with its registered address at Minerva House, 5 Montague Close, London, SE1 9AY, UK. Synovate Retail Performance is a wholly owned subsidiary of Synovate.
About Synovate
Synovate generates insights to help clients drive competitive brand, product and customer experience strategies. Now part of Ipsos, with offices in over 80 countries, our approach combines best in class global research capabilities with personalised service, local knowledge and the flexibility to create teams and processes that meet clients' specific requirements. At Synovate, our clients sit at the top of our organisational chart, driving us to continually develop more innovative research solutions that predict actual business outcomes.
For more information on Synovate visit www.synovate.com.