Slow Easter for retail traffic

Fewer people were out shopping over the bank holiday compared with last year, despite better weather and Easter falling three weeks later, according to figures from industry monitor SPSL.

The Retail Traffic Index showed that shopper numbers on Good Friday were down 5.5 per cent year on year, followed by a 4.2 per cent drop on Saturday and a fall of 7.2 per cent on Bank Holiday Monday.

SPSL director of knowledge management Tim Denison said: 'Usually we expect to see more shoppers out and about over a late Easter. This year, however, the subdued housing market in particular is quelling enthusiasm for home improvement plans, but underlying that there is a clearly an increasingly reticence to shop and spend at will. Only retailers with a strong affinity with consumer tastes, needs and lifestyles will continue to attract brisk business, but others will already be hurting.'

SPSL's figures were backed by data from rival shopper monitor FootFall, which showed shopper levels for Good Friday were down 4.3 per cent, with figures for the Easter weekend down 3.3 per cent compared with last year.