Retailers across Wales faced a disappointing November as the number of shoppers visiting stores fell, dashing hopes for a strong start to the crucial festive trading period.
Nationwide Decline Amidst UK Contrasts
According to the latest research from the Welsh Retail Consortium (WRC), year-on-year footfall across Wales decreased by 0.4% in November. This marks a sharp reversal from the positive 0.6% growth recorded in October. The decline was felt across different retail locations, with shopping centre footfall down 1.6% and retail park visits falling by 1.5%.
The performance placed Wales mid-table in a UK-wide comparison. Northern Ireland led the nations with a significant 2.7% rise, while Scotland saw a 0.3% dip. England's overall footfall fell by 1%, with the North East of England experiencing the UK's steepest decline at 5%.
Cardiff Among UK's Worst-Performing Cities
The capital city felt the downturn acutely. An analysis of 11 major UK cities showed Cardiff experienced a 3.2% year-on-year fall in shopper numbers in November, a worsening from October's 2.1% decline.
This placed Cardiff as the fourth worst-performing major city, behind only Leeds (-4.6%), Liverpool (-7.0%), and Birmingham (-10.0%). In contrast, Bristol recorded the biggest year-on-year rise at 2.1%.
Black Friday Fails to Deliver Boost
Sara Jones, Head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, expressed concern that even the key Black Friday weekend failed to stimulate activity. Footfall over that period was down by more than 3% compared to the previous year.
"Welsh retailers’ hopes of a sustained golden quarter shopping boost were dashed in November," said Jones. She attributed the fragile consumer confidence to the run-up and aftermath of the UK Government's autumn budget, noting that aggressive discounting could not counteract the trend.
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant for Sensormatic Solutions which compiled the data, confirmed that while Black Friday itself saw a modest 0.2% uplift, the combined Saturday and Sunday footfall plummeted by 3.4%.
Looking ahead, retailers are now relying on a late festive surge. "The golden quarter isn’t over, and with four of the predicted top five shopping days still ahead, the festive season could provide the boost retailers need," Sumpter added.
Jones also highlighted a looming challenge for Welsh businesses, warning that from April, many stores in Wales are set to pay higher business rates than their English counterparts, which could force tough decisions in the new year.
