// Footfall drops across retail destinations as coronavirus outbreak raises fears
// Footfall dropped 28% year-on-year, Springboard found
// High streets were most affected
Footfall has dropped to an all-time low across retail destinations in the UK as the Covid-19 pandemic prompted consumers to stay indoors.
Shopper numbers slumped last week by 21.7 per cent from the previous week and by 28 per cent year on year, according to data from Springboard.
High streets were most affected, with footfall dropping 31 per cent on the previous week and 41 per cent year-on-year, while shopping centre footfall fell 25.4 per cent year-on-year.
READ MORE:
- Retail footfall took a nosedive in February
- Westfield affected by government Covid-19 measures
- Coronavirus: B&Q and Screwfix stores to remain open, Kingfisher says
“The decline in footfall week on week was on par with the drop normally only ever seen in the week post-Christmas,” Springboard insights director Diane Wehrle said.
“The annual change represented an unprecedented decline in retail footfall that was three times greater than the worst result we have ever previously recorded.”
Retail parks saw a slight increase in footfall earlier in the week, as panic-buyers went to large out-of-town food stores.
However, by the end of the week, retail parks saw footfall drop by 2.9 per cent as more retailers closed their stores.
London was the hardest hit, with an annual drop of 31.1 per cent overall.
Footfall in central London plummeted by a colossal 63.3 per cent on an annual basis, while footfall in outer London dropped 21.9 per cent.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
