Latest data from retail expert Springboard reveals footfall in UK retail destinations rose on Monday 12 April by +155.2% from the same day last week, and by +225.2% in shopping centres. The rise in footfall in high streets was slightly lower at +176.1%; perhaps due to the cold weather encouraging shoppers into shopping centres.
Although more modest, the rise in footfall in retail parks was still significant at +35.9% from the previous Monday. Even with this more modest rise, footfall in retail parks on Monday 12 April was +7.8% higher than on the same Monday in 2019, before the pandemic.
Across all retail destinations, footfall on Monday 12 April was just 15.9% lower than on the same Monday in 2019.
This incredibly positive result demonstrates the demand amongst consumers for shopping in bricks and mortar stores. Even in Central London, the destination hardest hit in terms of the loss of footfall since Covid, figures rose by +202.4% from the week before; improving the annual result to -56% from 2019 compared with more than -80% during lockdown.
In regional cities outside London, the result was even more positive; footfall strengthening and ending up 27.1% below the 2019 level. However, whilst shoppers were venturing out to large cities, many still stayed local. Market towns saw a rise in footfall of +237.2% from the week before. This represents a drop from 2019 of just -6.8%.
In retail destinations in the North and Yorkshire region, footfall on Monday was only marginally below the 2019 level (-0.8% year-on-year).
Commenting is Diane Wehrle, Insights Director at Springboard. “The first day of retail reopening was an amazingly positive result and one which finally offers retailers with some positive news. The strong uplift highlights that consumer demand is higher than even forecasted and shows that bricks and mortar still holds a key position within the retail sector.
“With footfall in shopping centres rising by +225.2% and on high streets by +155.2% on the first day of trading, the sector can finally see a visible road to recovery after a difficult year.”
