UK footfall recovers ahead of stores reopening but challenges remain
UK footfall crept up on high streets and shopping centres during March as warmer weather coincided with the end of the government’s ‘stay at home’ coronavirus requirements.
According to research from the BRC and Sensormatic, with the UK still in lockdown, total footfall decreased by 68.7% in March (Yo2Y), with only a 4.9 percentage point improvement from February. This is above the three month average decline of 72.3%.
Footfall on high streets declined by 64.6% (Yo2Y). This compares with the three month average decline of 67.9%.
Shopping centre footfall dipped by 73.2% (Yo2Y). The three month average decline was 76.2%.
Back in action
Non-essential retail businesses in England can return to action next week as part of an easing of coronavirus restrictions.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at British Retail Consortium, says: “The earlier Easter date gave consumers a reason to do a little extra food shopping, with strong demand for chocolate and Easter eggs leading to extra store visits.”
“Consumers appear to be more confident about visiting shops, showing that the safety measures put in place are clearly helping to make shoppers feel more comfortable visiting and returning to stores.”
She adds: “Non-food retail stores will have lost £30 billion in foregone sales over the three lockdowns. It is essential they are able to trade effectively from 12th April, and remain open.”
“Savings have been building up over lockdown, and the economic recovery relies on retailers being able to unlock the pent-up demand in the economy. Government should do all it can to support consumer confidence both ahead of, and during opening.”
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA at Sensormatic Solutions, comments: “After a year of yoyoing in and out of lockdown, retailers will be hoping for stability and, once again, will be counting on the continued support of shoppers if any sort of bounce back is to be sustained.”
“Having invested heavily to ensure their stores remain as safe as possible for shoppers to return, the onus is now on the consumer to vote with their feet and ‘use or lose’ the shops they previously frequented.”
