BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
BRITISH RETAIL CONSORTIUM – SENSORMATIC IQ
UK footfall makes gradual improvement March saw consumers able to shop with a greater sense of normality, as the first full month without restrictions in England and Northern Ireland.
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otal UK footfall increased by 1.2 percentage points month-onmonth, British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Sensormatic IQ figures show. However, total UK footfall decreased by 15.4% in March when compared to pre-pandemic figures. The UK’s figures were ahead of France (-25.5%), Germany (-37.5%), and Italy (-38.6%). The figures show footfall on High Streets declined by 17.8% in March compared to pre-pandemic figure, but was 3.1 percentage points better than last month's rate, and an improvement on the three-month average decline of 19.9%.
Shopping Centre footfall declined by 35.8% on pre-pandemic figures, but were 4.3 percentage points better than last month's rate, and above the threemonth average decline of 38.9%. The data reveals that Northern Ireland saw the shallowest footfall decline of all regions at -14.5%, followed by England at -14.9%, and Wales at -18.8%. Scotland saw the steepest decline at -21.1%, the figures showed. Helen Dickinson, Chief-Executive of British Retail Consortium, said: “March saw another gradual improvement to footfall levels across the UK. As the first full month without coronavirus
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restrictions in England and Northern Ireland, consumers were able to shop with a greater sense of normality, spurred on by some spring sunshine.” She added: “There are many challenges on the horizon as consumer confidence fell to its lowest levels in 16 months. Consumers are now feeling the effects of rising living costs, increased food and fuel prices, and are also anticipating higher energy prices from 1 April. The impact on retail footfall and retail sales across both stores and online is yet to be seen, but as belts continue to tighten and prices continue to rise, it will be a difficult road ahead for consumers.”
