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High street footfall over the Easter bank holiday weekend increased by 6.5% on Friday, 1.2% on Saturday and 8.4% by 12pm on Easter Monday, as a result of the hot and sunny weather.
According to retail intelligence firm Springboard, the result is a “clear contrast” to Easter 2018, when poor weather resulted in footfall declining by 2.4% on Good Friday, 3% on Easter Saturday and 9.8% by 12pm on Easter Monday.
On Friday and Saturday, the rise was due to an increase in activity in high streets (rather than in shopping centres or retail parks), where footfall rose by 19.1% on Good Friday and 8.8% on Easter Saturday. Springboard said this is “really positive news” for high streets, as footfall declined by 9.6% and 6.9% on Easter Friday and Saturday last year due to the weather.
However, footfall declined by in shopping centres by 11% on Good Friday and 11.8% on Easter Saturday.
Springboard insights director Diane Wehrle said: “Consumers clearly wanted to be outside enjoying the sun rather than visiting covered malls. Even in retail parks, where shoppers gravitate to buy garden furniture and plants, footfall declined by 2.4% on Good Friday and 1.3% on Easter Saturday from the same days last year.”
