Shopper numbers improve across locations in April

Total UK footfall decreased by 13.1 per cent in April, compared to their pre-pandemic (2019) levels. However, this represented a 2.3 percentage point improvement from March, and all three location types witnessed increase in shopper numbers, according to the BRC-Sensormatic IQ data.

Footfall on High Streets and Retail Parks has been 0.6 and 3.3 percentage points better than last month's rate respectively. Shopping Centre footfall saw the largest improvement of 8.2 percentage points from the previous month.

Northern Ireland again saw the shallowest footfall decline of all nations at -11.7 per cent, followed by England at -12.7 per cent and Wales at -13.8 per cent. Scotland again saw the steepest decline at -14.8 per cent.

“April saw another encouraging improvement to UK footfall, as the spring sunshine and Easter festivities brought consumers back to stores.” Helen Dickinson, chief executive of British Retail Consortium (BRC), commented.

Consumer confidence, however, saw a different trend, she noted, falling to its lowest levels since the 2008 financial crisis.

“Shoppers are now being forced to make tough decisions in the face of rising inflation and higher energy prices, exacerbated further by the war in Ukraine. This threatens to stall improvements to footfall, as consumers reign in their discretionary spending. Retailers will have to work twice as hard to sustain customer loyalty and engagement,” Dickinson said.