Latest data from retail experts Springboard has revealed that footfall across UK retail destinations increased by +6.6% last week from the week before, a significant uplift from the marginal rise of +0.5% in the previous week.
Footfall in high streets continued its steady increase, rising by +6.6% from the week before, following a +4% rise in the previous week.
The biggest difference was in retail parks and shopping centres; in retail parks a decline in footfall of -4.4% two weeks ago shifted to a rise of +9% last week as shoppers refreshed their gardens in readiness for the opportunity to meet friends and family outdoors. Footfall in shopping centres shifted upward, from a drop of -2.3% two weeks ago to a rise of +4.3% last week.
Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard said: “Following the anniversary of the start of the lockdown on Monday 22nd March, footfall across UK retail destinations last week was higher than it was in the same week in 2020 but still much lower than in the same week in 2019, before the pandemic.
“Despite the significant gap in activity levels from 2019, footfall once again rose last week from the week before as it has done so in eight of the past nine weeks. However, the uplift was much larger last week, and this was primarily a result of far greater footfall in retail parks and shopping centres; the rise in retail parks most likely due to shoppers upgrading their gardens in advance of the relaxation of restrictions this week.”
