Economic Activity And Social Change In The UK - Real-time Indicators: 27 June 2024

28th June 2024

Overall retail footfall increased by 2% in the week to 23 June 2024 when compared with the previous week but was 1% lower when compared with the equivalent week of 2023 (MRI OnLocation). Section 3: Consumer behaviour.

The annual growth in automotive fuel prices was 3% in the week to 16 June 2024, remaining broadly unchanged when compared with the previous week (Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero). Section 3: Consumer behaviour.

The total number of online job adverts on 21 June 2024 decreased by 1% from the level in the previous week and was 20% below the level in the equivalent period of 2023 (Adzuna). Section 4: Business and workforce.

In the week to 23 June 2024, the System Price of electricity increased by 15% compared with the previous week from a seven-day average price of 7.242 pence per kilowatt hour to 8.351 pence per kilowatt hour; meanwhile, the System Average Price (SAP) of gas decreased by 1% from 2.840 pence per kilowatt hour to 2.821 pence per kilowatt hour (Elexon, National Gas Transmission). Section 5: Energy

In the week to 23 June 2024, the daily average number of UK flights remained broadly unchanged when compared with the previous week but was 4% higher than the equivalent week of 2023 (EUROCONTROL).

In the week to 23 June 2024, overall retail footfall increased by 2% when compared with the previous week but was 1% below the level seen in the equivalent week of 2023.

High street footfall increased by 7% when compared with the previous week, while retail park and shopping centre footfall both decreased by 3%. High street footfall remained broadly unchanged when compared with the equivalent week in 2023, but shopping centre footfall fell by 3%, and retail park footfall fell by 1%.

Overall retail footfall increased in 8 of the 12 UK countries and English regions and remained broadly unchanged in the remaining 4, when compared with the previous week. The largest increases were seen in London, Wales and the East of England, all rising by 4%, followed by the North East of England at 3%.

When compared with the equivalent week of 2023, 10 of the 12 UK countries and English regions saw a decrease in overall retail footfall. The largest decrease was seen in Wales, which fell to 8% below the level seen in the equivalent week of 2023, followed by the North East of England, which fell by 6%.

Automotive fuel spending
The annual growth rate in the estimated demand for fuel per transaction was 0% in the week to 16 June 2024. When compared with the previous week, this was an increase of 2 percentage points, but was 6 percentage points lower than in the equivalent week of 2023.

The annual growth rate in average fuel prices was 3% in the week to 16 June 2024. This was broadly unchanged when compared with the previous week and was 26 percentage points higher than in the equivalent week of 2023.

Job Adverts
The total number of online job adverts on 21 June 2024 decreased by 1% when compared with the previous week.

For the same period, online job adverts decreased in 8, increased in 1 and remained broadly unchanged in 3 of the 12 UK countries and English regions. The South West and East Midlands regions showed the largest week-on-week decreases, both falling by 2%, while the only increase was in the East of England, rising by 2%.

The total number of online job adverts was 20% lower, when compared with the equivalent period of 2023, with all UK countries and English regions having fewer adverts. The largest year-on-year decline was in Scotland, which was 32% lower than a year ago.

The total number of online job adverts was lower in 24 of the 28 job categories, when compared with the equivalent period of 2023. The categories with the largest decreases were "Construction and trades" and "Admin, clerical and secretarial", which fell by 56% and 52%, respectively.

Read the full ONS report HERE