Retail footfall made a recovery in March, according to the latest Springboard Footfall Monitor and Insights report.
Footfall recoverd to an annual decline of -28.1% from -61% in February 2021. Whilst this statistic is somewhat distorted by the anniversary of the first lockdown occurring part way through the month, it is still indicates a positive step towards recovery for the UK ahead of non-essential retail re-opening this month.
Footfall rose across all destination types. In high streets the annual decline moved from -65.9% in week one to -58.4% by the final week of the month, in shopping centres it moved from -69% to -62.5% and in retail parks it virtually halved from -29.8% in week 1 to just -14.8% by the final week.
Diane Wehrle, director of marketing and insights at Springboard said: ” Retail parks continued to be the clear winners outperforming high street and shopping centres which is not at all surprising given that food stores, DIY stores and garden centres continue to trade whilst all non-essential stores remain closed.”
She added: ” Footfall is likely to continue to rise over the following weeks but probably at a slightly slower rate as shoppers look forward to dining out following the reopening of indoor hospitality on 17th May.”
