UK footfall jumps 7.2% in April

Footfall rose by +7.2% from March to April, reversing a drop of -2.8% from February to March according to the latest data from MRI Springboard.

Springboard said that Easter was a significant driver of footfall in April, with a rise in the week of Good Friday and Easter Saturday of +14.2% from the week before.

Footfall did dip in the subsequent week by -10.2% due to Easter Sunday and Easter Monday but rose in the third and fourth weeks of the month (+1.7% and +3.8%).

As such, the gap in footfall from 2019 narrowed in April to -12% from -14.9% in March; -15.6% in high streets, -14.2% in shopping centres and -2% in retail parks.

Footfall increased annually in April from April 2022 by +4.7%, versus just +0.7% in March.

Footfall in high streets was +4.6% higher than in March 2022, +6.6% higher than in March 2022 in shopping centres and +2.9% higher than in March 2022 in retail parks.

Despite this, the UK vacancy rate rose to 11% over the quarter to April from 10.2% in January, which Springboard said demonstrates that high streets remain challenged by tight trading conditions which has resulted in the closure of some businesses.

Springboard said: “The hope is that the three bank holidays in May – one of which surrounds the once in a lifetime event of the King’s Coronation – will deliver a further fillip to retail destinations and stores.

“This will help to offset the loss of weekday footfall that has come about through hybrid working which is particularly relevant for high streets where in April footfall between Monday and Friday remained -18.2% below the 2019 level versus just -7.2% below 2019 during the weekend.”