Welsh Retailers Report Continued Decline in Shopper Numbers
The Welsh Retail Consortium has released concerning new figures showing a persistent decline in retail footfall across Wales during January. According to the latest research commissioned by the organization, footfall decreased by 2.8% compared to the same period last year, marking another difficult month for physical retailers throughout the nation.
Detailed Breakdown of Footfall Figures
This January's decline represents a slight improvement from December's 3.1% drop, but industry leaders emphasize this marginal change fails to address the fundamental challenges facing brick-and-mortar retail. The data reveals significant variation across different retail environments, with shopping centers experiencing the most severe year-on-year decline at 6.1%, while retail parks saw a more moderate 2.4% decrease in visitor numbers.
When compared to other UK nations, Wales' performance appears particularly concerning. While Northern Ireland reported a 3.8% increase and Scotland saw a substantial 5.1% rise in footfall, England experienced a more modest 1.4% decline. Among UK regions, only the East of England (down 3%) and West Midlands (down 3.9%) recorded steeper declines than Wales.
Cardiff's Position Among UK Cities
The capital city of Cardiff experienced the second largest year-on-year decline among the UK's eleven core cities, with footfall dropping 2.4% in January. While this represents an improvement from December's 4.4% decrease, it places Cardiff in a concerning position nationally. Birmingham recorded the most severe decline at 7.1%, while Edinburgh led with a positive 5.5% increase in shopper numbers.
Nation and Region Footfall Comparison:
- Scotland: +5.1% (up from -1.5% in December)
- Northern Ireland: +3.8% (up from -1.7%)
- England: -1.4% (improved from -3.1%)
- Wales: -2.8% (slightly improved from -3.1%)
- West Midlands: -3.9% (improved from -5.5%)
Industry Leaders Voice Serious Concerns
Sara Jones, Head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, expressed grave concerns about the ongoing trend. "January footfall remained below levels seen a year ago, laying bare the deep-rooted challenges facing bricks-and-mortar retail in Wales," she stated. "Although there was a slight improvement on December, it was far from enough to reverse the damage."
Jones highlighted that even aggressive discounting and widespread promotional activities during the traditional January sales period failed to attract sufficient shoppers back to physical stores. "Retailers cannot discount their way out of these pressures," she emphasized, noting that Welsh footfall has declined in eight of the past twelve months.
The continued downturn is placing significant strain on town and city centers across Wales, threatening jobs, investment, and the vitality of local communities. With political parties preparing their manifestos ahead of the Senedd election, Jones called for urgent policy intervention, including meaningful reductions in business rates and clear support for physical retail to prevent further shop closures and job losses.
Expert Analysis and Future Outlook
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant at Sensormatic Solutions which conducted the research, provided additional context. "January was still a tough month for Wales, with footfall down 2.8% year on year - an improvement on December, but the weakest performance of the devolved nations," he explained.
Sumpter noted that Storm Goretti created additional challenges during the month, disrupting travel and further limiting store visits just as retailers were attempting to recover from the crucial holiday shopping period. Despite these difficulties, he identified a "glimmer of optimism" in the easing decline rate, suggesting retailers hope this improvement might signal the beginning of a more positive trend as the year progresses.
The research defines footfall as anyone entering a retail store, providing a comprehensive measure of physical shopping activity. As Welsh retailers navigate these challenging conditions, industry observers will closely monitor whether February brings the turnaround that many are desperately hoping for.
