Extreme Weather Hits UK Retail Sales Hard

  • UK retail footfall decreased by 15.3% due to Storm Ciara
  • Storm Dennis caused a 16.3% decrease in UK retail footfall
  • North west of England had the highest decline at 18.3%
  • South west and west midlands were most affected by Storm Dennis with 23.5% and 20.8% drops respectively
  • Weather has a genuine impact on sales, especially during extreme conditions
  • Non-food stores’ footfall in UK fell by 0.5% in January

Storms Ciara and Dennis caused significant declines in UK retail footfall, with a 15.3% drop due to Ciara and a 16.3% decrease due to Dennis. The northwest of England was most affected at 18.3%, while the southwest and west midlands saw drops of 23.5% and 20.8% respectively. Dr. Tim Denison, director of retail intelligence at Ipsos Retail Performance, noted that these storms had similar impacts on footfall as previous years’ snowstorms but with more rain than wind. He also mentioned that retailers often use weather to explain poor sales performances, and in extreme conditions, it is a valid reason for reduced customer visits. In January, non-food stores experienced a 0.5% year-on-year decline, which Ipsos Retail Performance’s Retail Traffic Index (RTI) found surprising after a disappointing December.

Factuality Level: 10
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about the impact of Storm Ciara and Dennis on UK retail footfall, citing data from Ipsos Retail Performance and quotes from Dr. Tim Denison, an expert in the field. It also includes relevant context about the overall performance of non-food stores in January.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about the impact of Storm Ciara and Dennis on UK retail footfall, citing specific numbers and regions affected. It also includes expert commentary from Dr. Tim Denison, offering context and perspective on the situation. However, it could benefit from more analysis or discussion of long-term trends or potential future impacts.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: UK retail sector
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the impact of Storm Ciara and Dennis on UK retail footfall, which can affect sales and revenue for retail companies, thus impacting financial markets related to the retail sector.
Presence Of Extreme Event: Yes
Nature Of Extreme Event: Natural Disaster (storms)
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis caused a decrease in UK retail footfall by 15.3% and 16.3% respectively, with the most affected regions experiencing up to 23.5% decline. The impact was mainly on shopping behavior but did not cause major damage or casualties.

Reported publicly: www.retailsector.co.uk