According to the latest analysis from Springboard the Easter weekend saw footfall drop by 83.1% in comparison to 2019, and by 14.5% on the previous weekend.
Across the whole of March 2020, footfall in retail destinations had an unprecedented decline of -41.3% from the same period in 2019 with footfall down by -61.5% in the final three weeks of the month, reaching -81.4% in the final week.
And Springboard does not expect pedestrian traffic to return to pre-pandemic levels even when restrictions are lifted. Insights sirector Diane Wehrle [pictured] predicted: “It is likely that even when we are in recovery, the psychological impact of the pandemic will linger with social distancing continuing to be the new normal for some time to come. If this were to be the case, retail parks and the space they offer will be a favoured destination for many.”
“In the meantime, as lock down is likely to continue for some weeks yet, Britons will remember the role retail staff across grocery, pharmacy and every day essentials stores played in March 2020 and beyond in keeping it possible for families and households to continue to shop during such troubling times.”
