Total UK footfall increased by 5.3% year-on-year in April, 1.5 percentage points worse than March, new data reveals.
The BRC-Sensormatic IQ data shows high street footfall increased by 10.5% year-on-year in April, 1.9 percentage points better than last month’s rate, but worse than the three-month average rise of 13.4%.
Shopping Centre footfall increased by 7.9% year-on-year in April, 0.3 percentage points worse than last month’s rate, and worse than the three-month average rise of 9.1%.
The data reveals that England saw the highest increase in footfall of all nations at 9.7%, followed by Scotland at 7.7% and Wales at 3.0%. Northern Ireland saw the lowest increase at 2.9%.
Compared to pre-pandemic levels, total UK Footfall decreased by 16.2%; High Streets by 21.2%, Retail Parks lower by 6.1%, and Shopping Centres by 18.2%.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retail footfall is finding a new balance, as the rise in online shopping and spread of hybrid working, has changed consumer shopping habits. As a result, while we expect footfall to continue to improve, it may never reach the levels seen prior to the pandemic.”
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, added: “The outlook does remain tough and double-digit growth was always going to fizzle out as the year went on and footfall trends began to normalise. Nevertheless, rising consumer confidence and a May full of holidays is surely something that retailers can look forward to.”
