UK retail footfall plummets in March

UK retail footfall decreased by 44.7% in March due to the mandatory lockdown, according to the latest BRC-ShopperTrak footfall monitor.

The report said the figure is a record decline for the industry that saw “unprecedented challenges” during the month as the UK continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the three weeks prior to the lockdown (23 March), UK footfall saw an average decline of 17.7%. Whereas during the two weeks of lockdown, UK footfall saw an average decline of 83.2%.

Additionally, footfall on high streets declined by 41.8% year on year, but fared better in comparison to shopping centres. Despite this, the BRC said local convenience stores saw a “rise in popularity”.

Retail parks also saw footfall decrease by 23.5% year on year. However, the BRC said that wider open spaces in comparison to other locations and a higher proportion of supermarkets helped to shelter retail parks from a steeper decline.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of British Retail Consortium, said: “Footfall dropped in early March, as many people chose to stay at home and reduce the risk of catching coronavirus.

“This downwards trajectory was accelerated by the Government’s decision to put the UK on lockdown, with footfall dropping by over 80% on the previous year in the weeks following these measures.”

She added: “High streets and shopping centres saw the biggest declines as most shops closed their doors, but retail parks also saw reduced falls due to the presence of many essential retailers remaining open for business.”