Your York BID 

York Economic Data Hub

Bringing together York’s most trusted economic data sources in one free, easy-to-use resource. Empowering local businesses with clear, actionable insights to support decision-making and strengthen the city centre economy.

Your York BID 

York Economic Data Hub

Bringing together York’s most trusted economic data sources in one free, easy-to-use resource. Empowering local businesses with clear, actionable insights to support decision-making and strengthen the city centre economy.

York Economic Data Hub is an online resource designed to provide clear, accessible insights into the economic performance of York city centre over time. The hub is organised into a series of sections, each presenting key data, trends and analysis. For the best user experience, we advise viewing via a desktop computer. Use the menu below to navigate directly to the section you would like to explore.

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Latest Monthly Insights - March 2026

Sales

£

8.6%

YoY Growth

8.2%

UK Benchmark

ARPC

£

1.4%

YoY Growth

0.6%

UK Benchmark

Footfall

11.9%

YoY Growth

Sales – YTD

£

5.2%

YoY Growth

4.3%

UK Benchmark

ARPC – YTD

£

0.3%

YoY Growth

0.3%

UK Benchmark

Footfall – YTD

7.6%

YoY Growth

ARPC – Average Revenue Per Customer – Total sales divided by the number of customers

YoY – Year-on-Year – Percentage change in performance compared with the same period in the previous year, e.g. 2026 vs 2025

YTD – Year To Date – Percentage change in cumulative performance from the start of the current calendar year (Jan-Dec), compared with the same period in the previous year, e.g. January to March 2026 vs January to March 2025

UK Benchmark – The median retail performance across city centre retail areas within the UK’s Primary Urban Areas (PUAs), as defined by Centre for Cities

Please refer to the Glossary of Terms for definitions of the terms and abbreviations used in this report, along with maps outlining the geographic coverage of each dataset

Sales

£

8.6%

YoY Growth

8.2%

UK Benchmark

ARPC

£

1.4%

YoY Growth

0.6%

UK Benchmark

Footfall

11.9%

YoY Growth

Sales – YTD

£

5.2%

YoY Growth

4.3%

UK Benchmark

Sales – YTD

£

5.2%

YoY Growth

4.3%

UK Benchmark

ARPC – YTD

£

0.3%

YoY Growth

0.3%

UK Benchmark

Footfall – YTD

7.6%

YoY Growth

ARPC – Average Revenue Per Customer – Total sales divided by the number of customers

YoY – Year-on-Year – Percentage change in performance compared with the same period in the previous year, e.g. 2026 vs 2025

YTD – Year To Date – Percentage change in cumulative performance from the start of the current calendar year (Jan-Dec), compared with the same period in the previous year, e.g. January to March 2026 vs January to March 2025

UK Benchmark – The median retail performance across city centre retail areas within the UK’s Primary Urban Areas (PUAs), as defined by Centre for Cities

Please refer to the Glossary of Terms for definitions of the terms and abbreviations used in this report, along with maps outlining the geographic coverage of each dataset

Spending Insights

Beauclair provides a robust, anonymised dataset of approximately 1.5 billion in-store debit card transactions annually, with a total value of around £45 billion—equivalent to roughly 7.5% of all UK debit card spending. The dataset focuses exclusively on UK-issued debit cards and excludes credit card transactions, online purchases, and cash payments, offering a consistent and reliable view of physical retail activity.

All data is fully anonymised and aggregated in line with GDPR and data protection requirements. Further information on methodology, coverage, and key considerations can be found in the Beauclair FAQ document.

Use the left and right scroll to cycle between the graphs. A description of the insights displayed is shown below.

Figure 1. Total monthly sales recorded in York city centre between 2024 and 2026. Data labels show year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month in the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. (Source: Beauclair)

Figure 2. Total number of account holders linked to monthly debit card transactions in York city centre, covering 2024–2026. Data labels show year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month in the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. (Source: Beauclair)

Figure 3. Total monthly transactions recorded in York city centre between 2024 and 2026. Data labels show year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month in the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. (Source: Beauclair)

Figure 4. Monthly average revenue per customer (ARPC) recorded in York city centre between 2024 and 2026. Data labels show year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month in the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. (Source: Beauclair)

Figure 5. Monthly average transaction value (ATV) recorded in York city centre between 2024 and 2026. Data labels show year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month in the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. (Source: Beauclair)

Sector Spending Insights

Figure 6. Total monthly sales across sectors, recorded in York city centre, within a chosen month. Data labels show year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month in the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. Use the slicer to explore different months across the year. For sector definition, please refer to the Glossary of Terms. (Source: Beauclair)

Figure 7. Total monthly sales by sector, recorded in York city centre between 2024 and 2026. Data labels show year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month in the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. Use the slicer to focus on different sectors. For sector definition, please refer to the Glossary of Terms. (Source: Beauclair)

Figure 8. Total monthly customers by sector, recorded in York city centre between 2024 and 2026. Data labels show year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month in the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. Use the slicer to focus on different sectors. For sector definition, please refer to the Glossary of Terms. (Source: Beauclair)

Figure 9. Total monthly transactions by sector, recorded in York city centre between 2024 and 2026. Data labels show year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month in the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. Use the slicer to focus on different sectors. For sector definition, please refer to the Glossary of Terms. (Source: Beauclair)

Figure 10. Monthly average revenue per customer (ARPC) by sector, recorded in York city centre between 2024 and 2026. Data labels show year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month in the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. Use the slicer to focus on different sectors. For sector definition, please refer to the Glossary of Terms. (Source: Beauclair)

Figure 11. Monthly average transaction value (ATV) by sector, recorded in York city centre between 2024 and 2026. Data labels show year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month in the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. Use the slicer to focus on different sectors. For sector definition, please refer to the Glossary of Terms. (Source: Beauclair)

Catchment Insights

Figure 12. Total monthly spending by customers residing within the York Local Authority Area (York Residents), recorded in York city centre between 2024 and 2026. Data labels show year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month in the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. (Source: Beauclair)

Figure 13. Distribution of monthly sales by customers’ region of residence. Data labels show the percentage share of total sales associated with customers of each region, recorded in York city centre between in the last 12 months. (Source: Beauclair)

Visitor Insights

BT Active Intelligence uses anonymised, aggregated mobile device data from the BT and EE networks to show how people move and behave in physical spaces. The platform is widely used across UK cities and offers far broader coverage and larger sample sizes than traditional methods such as footfall counters or surveys.

All device data is adjusted to reflect the UK population. Census information helps convert device activity into population estimates, reducing bias from differences in BT’s market share or mobile usage across regions. In areas with fewer BT devices, each device is weighted slightly more to keep the data accurate.

Use the left and right scroll to cycle between the graphs. A description of the insights displayed is shown below.

Figure 14. Monthly totals of cumulative daily visitors to York city centre from October 2024 to present. Data labels show year-on-year (YoY) percentage change, comparing each month with the equivalent period in the previous year. (Source: BT Active Intelligence)

Figure 15. Percentage distribution of monthly visitors to York city centre by dwell time (in minutes) for the selected month. Visitors present in the retail area for fewer than 10 minutes are excluded. Use the slicer to compare patterns across different months. (Source: BT Active Intelligence)

Figure 16. Distribution of total monthly visitors recorded during each hour of the day to York city centre since October 2024, segmented by days of the week. Use the slicer to explore different months across the year. (Source: BT Active Intelligence)

Figure 17. Volumes of monthly visitors to York city centre since October 2024, segmented by age and gender. Use the slicer to explore different months across the year. (Source: BT Active Intelligence)

Hotel Occupancy

CoStar Group (via its STR platform) provides a trusted, industry-standard measure of how full hotels are over time, as a clear indicator of visitor demand and city centre activity.

Based on anonymised performance data submitted directly by Hospitality Association York (HAY) it shows the monthly percentage of available rooms that are occupied across the York city wide area.

Use the left and right scroll to cycle between the graphs. A description of the insights displayed is shown below.

Figure 18. The average monthly percentage of available rooms occupied across hotels and serviced accommodation city-wide in York between 2024 and 2026. Data labels indicate year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month of the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. (Source: STR/CoStar Group)

Figure 19. The average daily rate (ADR) charged per room across hotels and serviced accommodation city-wide in York between 2024 and 2026. Data labels indicate year-on-year (YoY) growth, comparing each month of the current year with the corresponding month in the previous year. (Source: STR/CoStar Group)

Shop Vacancy

Shop vacancy is a key indicator of high street health and economic vitality. Local data is published on the York Open Data platform measures the proportion of retail units in York city centre that are currently unoccupied, expressed as a percentage of total supply of retail units.

This data is compiled using a range of sources, including on-the-ground surveys, landlord and letting agent information, and commercial property datasets.

Use the left and right scroll to cycle between the graphs. A description of the insights displayed is shown below.

Figure 20. The average monthly percentage of vacant retail units recorded in York city centre, since the beginning of 2024. (Source: York Open Data)

About The Hub

This project is delivered in partnership with York St John University Business School, which provides in-kind support through a dedicated data analyst. It is funded by the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority and supported by a growing network of contributing partners, including City of York Council and Hospitality Association York.

The core objectives of the data hub are to:

Equip local businesses with actionable intelligence to support operational and strategic decision-making

Provide a robust evidence base to assess the impact of projects and strengthen the case for future investment

Support public and private sector stakeholders in making informed policy and planning decisions

Promote a consistent, data-led narrative around York’s economic health to build business and investor confidence

Explore more economic insights, including historical reports, news articles, and webinar recordings, in our Insights Archive below. Please refer to the Glossary of Terms for definitions of the terms and abbreviations used in this report, along with maps outlining the geographic coverage of each dataset.

Data-Intelligence-Hub-Partnerships

Insights Archive

York Economic Snapshot Webinar: Q1 2026 Review

24 April 2026

Watch the second instalment of our quarterly webinar series exploring the economic forces shaping York city centre. In this session, we explored York’s economic performance during the first quarter of…

York BID launches new Economic Data Hub for city businesses

9 April 2026

A new online data hub designed to help York businesses better understand the city’s economy has gone live. York Business Improvement District (BID) has introduced the York Economic Data Hub –…

York City Centre Insights January 2026

20 February 2026

York BID work with data suppliers to bring key economic metrics, offering valuable insights into the city’s performance over time. Our insights report is structured into sections highlighting key indicators…

York Economic Snapshot Webinar: How York performed during the festive season in 2025

26 January 2026

Watch the first in our new series of quarterly webinars exploring the economic forces shaping York city centre. In this session, we dive into key insights from the festive trading…

York City Centre Insights November 2025

9 January 2026

York BID work with data suppliers to bring key economic metrics, offering valuable insights into the city’s performance over time. Our insights report is structured into sections highlighting key indicators…

York BID warns hospitality sector faces ‘disastrous blow’ as rateable values soar by 41%

19 December 2025

York BID is warning that the city’s hospitality sector faces a potentially disastrous financial shock after new analysis revealed sharp increases in rateable values following the Valuation Office Agency’s latest…

York City Centre Insights October 2025

30 November 2025

York BID work with data suppliers to bring key economic metrics, offering valuable insights into the city’s performance over time. Our insights report is structured into sections highlighting key indicators…

York City Centre Insights Quarter 3 2025

4 November 2025

York BID work with data suppliers to bring key economic metrics, offering valuable insights into the city’s performance over time. Our insights report is structured into sections highlighting key indicators…

York City Centre Insights August 2025

30 September 2025

York BID work with data suppliers to bring key economic metrics, offering valuable insights into the city’s performance over time. Our monthly report is structured into sections highlighting key indicators…

York City Centre Insights July 2025

29 August 2025

York BID work with data suppliers to bring key economic metrics, offering valuable insights into the city’s performance over time. Our monthly report is structured into sections highlighting key indicators…