The lead up to Mother’s Day significantly boosted week-on-week footfall across all UK retail destinations as footfall climbed by +6.6%, according to retail experts MRI Software. High streets led the charge with activity rising by +7.9% while shopping centres and retail parks also witnessed rises in footfall of +6.2% and +4.4%, respectively.
Week-on-week rises in activity across all UK retail destinations were particularly noticeable on Sunday, marked by a +10.9% boost and Friday with +10%. Much of this activity is attributed to high streets which showcased strong performance over the past week.
Regional performance also remained strong with the West Midlands seeing footfall rise by almost a fifth year-on-year, followed by North & Yorkshire (+14%) and the South East (+13.3%). Historic and market towns witnessed the most significant rises in activity week-on-week of +10.9% and +11%, respectively.
More and more employees returned to offices last week, rising by +16.3% versus 2023 against MRI Software’s Central London ‘Back to Office’ benchmark.
With such a strong week for UK retail destinations, footfall rose by +12.4% from last year; by +15.6% in high streets, +9.7% in shopping centres and +8.6% in retail parks. This is likely to have been encouraged by the mild weather observed last week combined with the last minute dash for Mother’s Day and families making the most of leisure and hospitality experiences in towns and cities providing optimism for retail destinations especially as the Easter countdown gains momentum.
Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software: “The week leading up to Mother’s Day, and two weeks out from the peak trading week for Easter, saw a significant rebound in footfall compared to the previous week and year on year. However, it’s important to note that some of the year on year rise in activity will be in response to a decline in activity experienced in the same week last year when adverse weather hit the UK impacting footfall in all retail destinations.
“It’s also very interesting to note, employees returned to offices and this was much more noticeable when compared with 2023 levels as highlighted in MRI Software’s Central London ‘Back to Office’ benchmark. This positive trend could be set to continue, and benefit retail, as more employers encourage regular office attendance, with Boots being the latest organisation asking for all staff to return 5 days a week from September.
“Most significantly, compared to 2023 levels, footfall was six times higher last week in all UK retail destinations which may well have been influenced by shoppers heading out for last minute Mothers Day gifts or families heading out into towns and cities for leisure and hospitality experiences ahead of the special day.”
