Second Bombings in London Reinforced Decline in Shopper Numbers

London, The second set of attempted bombings on July 21 in central London reinforced the decrease in shopper numbers according to SPSL’s Retail Traffic Index (RTI). On July 22, the Congestion Zone saw shopper numbers down 19.1% year-on-year and on July 23, numbers were down 21.9% year-on-year. After the initial bombings on July 7, shopper numbers in central London had climbed within 10% of the year-on-year figures.

According to Dr. Tim Denison, director of knowledge management at SPSL, after the initial bombings, shopper numbers bounced back, most likely because shoppers thought the incident was isolated. He said, “What is becoming clear now is that shoppers cannot so easily justify shopping if there is the danger of further attacks. As the school holidays start we expect to see fewer parents prepared to take risks with their children by shopping with them in the capital, however slight the risk.”