Retailers Brace for a Difficult Christmas Season?
- Black Friday delays Christmas footfall surge
- Ipsos Retail Performance revised December forecast downwards to -6.1% year-on-year
- Footfall decreased in the week commencing 8 December
- Dr. Tim Denison expresses concern for the outcome of the Christmas campaign
According to Ipsos Retail Performance, Black Friday has delayed the expected surge in Christmas footfall, leading to a revised forecast of -1.4% for the month. The first week of reporting (w/c 24 November) saw a 20.9% increase in shopper numbers due to Black Friday campaigns and pay day week. However, the following week (w/c 1 December) was quieter, down -3.1% compared to the previous week. Ipsos has revised its December forecast to -6.1% year-on-year. Dr. Tim Denison, director of retail intelligence at Ipsos Retail Performance, commented on the latest figures: ‘Last week (w/c 8 December) was surprising as footfall decreased by -1.8% week-on-week and -10.6% compared to the same week last year. Typically, there should be a slight growth week-on-week in Week 3 before increasing sharply for Super Saturday, the final full week before Christmas. Retailers are concerned about the outcome of this challenging season.
Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about the impact of Black Friday on footfall numbers and includes expert commentary from Dr. Tim Denison, director of retail intelligence at Ipsos Retail Performance.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about the impact of Black Friday on Christmas footfall and offers insights from an expert in the field. However, it lacks a comprehensive analysis or exploration of long-term trends or possibilities, accountability, scientific rigor, intellectual honesty, staying on topic, evidence, data, examples, or actionable insights.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Retail sector
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the impact of Black Friday on footfall and its effect on retailers, which can affect their sales and revenue, making it relevant to financial topics in the retail industry.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the text.
www.retailsector.co.uk