Benchmark

Week 12, 2025 Local Retail Centres Footfall Performance Update

UK Local Retail Centres saw a 2% dip in daily visitor numbers. Robust footfall trends and footfall analytics reveal an overall soft performance from last week.

Joe Capocci

Head of Growth @ huq

April 3, 2025

2 min read

Social


Week 12, 2025 Local Retail Centres Footfall Performance Update

Share on LinkedIn


Overall Performance:
UK Local Retail Centres recorded an average of 12,900 daily visitors during Week 12, 2025, marking a 2% decline from the previous week and a notable 10.2% drop compared to the same period last year. This overall soft performance reflects a dynamic retail environment where even minor shifts in footfall can be significant.

Regional Breakdown:
In England, the centres saw an average of 13,000 visitors per day, experiencing a 2.3% decrease week on week and a 9.2% decline year on year. In contrast, Scotland’s performance was somewhat more encouraging, with an average daily footfall of 11,900—a 3.3% increase over the past week, despite softer comparisons with the previous year. Meanwhile, Wales faced tougher conditions, with an average of 9,700 daily visitors, registering a 4.4% weekly decline alongside a substantial year on year drop.

Visitor Engagement:
Visitor behavioural data revealed that the average dwell time at local retail centres remained steady at 93 minutes per visit, identical to last week’s figures. Notably, this duration represents a significant 14.8% year on year increase. England’s centres maintained an average visit duration of 94 minutes, buoyed by a 17.5% increase compared to the previous year. Scottish centres also saw improvements, with dwell times rising by 5.9% week on week and by 16.9% year on year. In contrast, Welsh centres experienced a decrease, with average dwell times falling to 64 minutes, highlighting a marked reduction relative to historical performance.

Industry Comment:
Joe Capocci, spokesperson for Huq Industries, commented on the trends: "The notable decline in footfall observed in Wales alongside Scotland's rebound, as echoed in recent footfall statistics, underlines the evolving market dynamics." This industry insight underscores the complexities of regional performance and the importance of continuous monitoring in a fluctuating market.

Media: For all media and press enquiries, please contact media@huq.io

About Huq Industries

Huq Industries is the leading provider of location intelligence across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, specialising in delivering high-quality data insights on footfall, consumer behaviour, and retail performance. By leveraging advanced analytics and an expansive data network, Huq Industries enables retailers and analysts to understand and respond to market trends effectively, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate the changing landscape of high street and town centre commerce.

Day Part Visitation
Dwell Time Data
Footfall Data

Social


Get the latest intelligence Benchmark update each Thursday!

Sign Up Now
faq’s

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers to the most common questions about movement intelligence, retail expansion, and location analytics.

How does movement intelligence differ from traditional market research?
Traditional market research relies on surveys, demographics and historical reports. huq's movement intelligence uses real-world behavioural data to reveal where people go, how long they stay and how locations perform, giving teams a live picture of consumer activity.
Can movement data help benchmark locations against competitors?
Yes. Compare stores, shopping centres, town centres or developments against competing locations using consistent metrics such as footfall, dwell time, catchment, visit frequency and commercial performance.
How often is movement data updated?
huq refreshes behavioural intelligence daily, allowing organisations to monitor changes in visitor activity, market trends and location performance with near real-time visibility.
Which industries benefit from movement intelligence?
Retail, real estate, financial services, government, BIDs, investors and property owners all use huq to make smarter location, investment and regeneration decisions backed by behavioural evidence.
Can huq feed our models directly?
Yes. huq data is available through APIs, data exports and structured datasets, making it easy to integrate into internal dashboards, analytics platforms and quantitative research workflows.
What markets and history are covered?
huq provides extensive UK coverage with years of historical behavioural data and daily updates. Customers can analyse long-term trends, benchmark locations and monitor market changes with confidence.