Post-election Clarity Boosts Consumer Confidence and Retail Sector

  • UK retail footfall bounces back in January
  • Non-food store footfall falls by just 0.5% year-on-year
  • Strong showing in first fortnight of January with 2.2% rise compared to previous year
  • Smallest January drop since 2011
  • Footfall rises in London and south east England for second consecutive month
  • Better-than-expected result supports positive economic start
  • Possible ‘Boris Bounce’ due to clarity from Brexit decision

The UK retail sector experienced a positive start to the year as footfall in non-food stores fell by just 0.5% year-on-year in January, according to Ipsos Retail Performance’s latest Retail Traffic Index (RTI). This was a pleasant surprise after a disappointing December and follows a smaller than expected decline of 24.6% compared to the previous month. The winter sale promotions seemed to have attracted shoppers seeking great deals, contributing to the rebound. Dr. Tim Denison, director of retail intelligence at Ipsos Retail Performance, noted that the better-than-expected result aligns with other recent metrics indicating an encouraging start to the year and may be a sign of the so-called ‘Boris Bounce’ following the general election outcome.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about footfall in non-food stores in the UK and includes expert commentary from Dr. Tim Denison of Ipsos Retail Performance. It also references other economic indicators such as PMI. However, it does include some speculation about a ‘Boris Bounce’ which is not universally accepted as fact.
Noise Level: 6
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about footfall trends in UK non-food stores and includes insights from an expert in the field. However, it contains some speculative language such as ‘Boris Bounce’ which may not be entirely supported by the data presented.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: UK retail sector
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses footfall in UK non-food stores and its impact on the retail industry, which can affect companies’ sales and financial performance. It also mentions the ‘Boris Bounce’, indicating a potential positive effect on consumer confidence and spending.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no mention of an extreme event in the text.

Reported publicly: www.retailsector.co.uk