Retail footfall in March increased across all destinations as the Easter weekend helped boost footfall.
Overall footfall in March rose by 1.7% compared with February, which showed the lowest month-on-month rise for this period in the last decade, according to the latest MRI Software data.
Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, said the data suggests that footfall trends are “starting to stabilise in all retail destinations”.
Retail parks recorded the largest increase in footfall, which rose 4.3% in March. High streets saw a 1.2% rise, while shopping centre footfall edged up 0.2%.
Annual footfall increased 2.7% across all UK destinations, with high streets seeing a 3.4% increase, retail parks a 3% rise and shopping centres a 0.9% uptick.
The data also showed that the week leading up to Easter saw a “healthy boost” in activity for all UK destinations, especially in retail parks and shopping centres with a 10.3% week-on-week rise.
Matthews said: “Much of the uplift was driven by activity in retail parks largely boosted by the final week of the month leading up to Easter, which also coincided with payday and the start of the Easter school holidays.
“However, turbulent weather conditions throughout the month, alongside shifts in key holiday dates such as Mother’s Day and Easter led to footfall remaining steady.
Rail strikes
“Looking ahead to April, a fresh set of rail strikes set to take place from April 5-8, coinciding with the Easter school holidays may dampen footfall, especially in towns and cities. However, the impact is expected to be less severe than on previous strike days due to it being bolstered by footfall on Good Friday when it rose by 12.5% week on week in all UK retail destinations.
“Retail parks and shopping centres are likely to experience a decline in activity, however much of this will be as a result of the surge in activity leading up to Good Friday in the week prior.
“This new wave of strike action will no doubt impact businesses reliant on footfall during the school holidays, such as leisure and hospitality, particularly in market and historic towns, as well as regional cities including London.
“However, there may well be optimism for coastal towns, visitor attractions and retail destinations where families can travel by car.”
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