Data released earlier this month has shown Northern Ireland’s footfall numbers have outperformed the UK average.
According to NIRC-Sensormatic IQ data covering the five weeks 27 November – 31 December 2022:
- Northern Ireland decreased by 3.0% in December (Yo3Y), 4.0 percentage points better than November. This is better than the UK average decline of 7.3% (Yo3Y).
- Shopping Centre footfall declined by 5.8% in December (Yo3Y) in Northern Ireland, an improvement on the decline of 7.3% in November.
- In December, footfall in Belfast increased by 9.3% (Yo3Y), 3.6 percentage points better than November.
- On a YoY basis, Total NI footfall increased by 9.2%, NI Shopping Centres by 9.1% and footfall in Belfast by 8.7%.
David Lonsdale, Northern Ireland Retail Consortium spokesman, said: “Buoyed by festive spending in the build up to Christmas and discounting by retailers in the immediate aftermath, this was a sprightlier and encouraging end to the year for shopper footfall in Northern Ireland and the best results since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020. Compared with pre-pandemic times, December saw the best monthly performance of 2022 with Northern Ireland recording the best results of the thirteen parts of the UK which were surveyed. All retail destinations benefitted with Belfast turning in by far its best foot-traffic results of last year, indeed it was one of only two UK cities in the survey to see footfall levels above that experienced during pre-Covid times. Overall, this was a timely lift during what is traditionally the busiest trading month of the year.
“There was a stark improvement when looking at the comparable period one year before, back in December 2021. However, this figure is flattered greatly against a weak comparable given fresh concerns back then over the Covid Omicron variant.
“Despite the welcome and more upbeat results, sustaining the improvement and turning browsing into actual buying will be tricky given the ongoing cost-of-living crunch. With overall visits to stores still below pre-pandemic levels government should assist the industry to keep costs down, which is why the mooted increase to the business rate in Northern Ireland should be ruled out.”
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, added: “Physical retail rallied in December, with store performance last month posting its best footfall counts compared to pre-pandemic figures all year. Retailers rose above an onslaught of festive disruption, from snow chaos to mail strikes impacting consumers’ shopping journeys both on- and off-line, disrupting pre-Christmas travel to shopping hubs and creating online delivery backlogs and delays.
“And, once again, it was the in-store teams that kept retailers’ doors open and able to continue to serve their customers and communities. Looking ahead to 2023, retailers will be hoping for more stability and support to help them chart a trading course for success in the light of continued economic headwinds, as they adapt their retail offers to the needs of the cost-of-living consumer.”
