In a month typically dominated by summer getaways, retail footfall in August thankfully didn’t take a break. In fact, visits to UK retail destinations rose, albeit by just 0.9% month-on-month and by a more modest 0.1% year-on-year across 28 July-24 August, according to MRI Software’s latest figures.

Shopping centres and retail parks were the main destinations of choice, up 2.1% and 2%, respectively, on the previous month, leaving high streets to suffer a marginal decline of  0.1%.

However, given the civil unrest suffered across several UK high streets during the month, that number could have been a lot worse had there not been a rebound in activity seen during the third week, the report noted.

In further good news for retail, MRI Software’s weekly ‘Insights from the Inside’ poll revealed that 37% of retailers have seen social channels such as TikTok and Instagram support a boost in their in-store sales “which highlights the positive impact on using such methods to drive in-store footfall”.

Compared to a year ago, retail parks again were the stars, up 3.3%, whereas shopping centres and high streets saw declines of 1.8% and 0.3% on last August.

It said the true impact of international vacations was evident with weekday footfall in all UK retail destinations down 0.8% year on year whereas weekend footfall rose by 1.2%. “This may well mark the return of holiday-goers and events in towns and cities driving footfall as UK high streets experienced a 2.7% rise in weekend footfall year on year”.

The report also said the latest numbers “align with historical trends witnessed pre-pandemic” where high streets and shopping centres would experience a lull in footfall as many people took vacations abroad in August… and it appears this trend is re-emerging signalling the return to normalcy which has been consistent throughout the year”, the report said.

While September’s back-to-school rush will also be prominent in the coming days, it said the greatest impact for retail destinations next month could be the mandated return to office which is due to be enforced by many businesses nationwide.

“This shift may lead to an uplift in weekday footfall as more people return to offices on a regular basis and offers retailers a chance to capitalise by preparing accordingly in terms of staffing and asset maintenance to ensure a seamless experience for the customer”.