Riots in the UK last week caused a nearly 5 per cent drop in footfall on high streets, but a 2.5 per cent increase in home deliveries helped offset the decline.
The disturbances, led by far-right agitators, resulted in an average 4.8 per cent decrease in high street footfall between Sunday and Wednesday. While other locations like retail parks and shopping centres also experienced fewer visitors, MRI Software reported a more moderate overall decline of 2.7 per cent across all destinations.
Wednesday saw the sharpest drop, with high street footfall plummeting by 7.5 per cent. In Northern England and Yorkshire, the decline was even more pronounced, with a 12.9 per cent decrease compared to the previous week.
Meanwhile, Parcelhero, a delivery specialist, reported a 2.5 per cent increase in parcel shipments and home deliveries during the first half of last week. Many shoppers opted to make purchases from home and have items delivered rather than risk visiting city centres.
David Jinks, Head of Consumer Research, noted, “Similar to the Covid pandemic, when shoppers become wary of crowds or potential trouble, they often prefer to shop online. Based on Parcelhero’s data and feedback from our courier partners and retailers, we observed a significant increase in online orders during the first half of last week, a time when town centre stores would typically be bustling with families on holiday.”
