// Overall footfall dive 44.7% in March due to the coronavirus lockdown
// In the first 3 weeks of the month, footfall declined 17.7%, then 83.2% after lockdown was announced
// Shopping centres were hardest hit, reporting a 43.6% dive in footfall for the month
Retail footfall in the UK experienced its sharpest ever decline after shops shut their doors in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, according to new figures.
Overall footfall dived by 44.7 per cent in March due to the government-mandated lockdown, according to the latest BRC-ShopperTrak footfall monitor.
It also revealed that UK footfall declined by 17.7 per cent in the three weeks before the lockdown was enforced on March 23.
READ MORE:
- UK footfall drops to lowest level on record (Springboard)
- Consumer confidence plunges at fastest rate in 40 years
- High street retailers suffer worst month on record
In the two weeks after lockdown was announced, footfall sank by an average of 83.2 per cent after non-essential shops closed and people were told to stay at home.
High streets saw footfall decline 41.8 per cent in March compared with the previous year, as increased use of convenience stores provided a rare positive.
Shopping centres were harder hit by the lockdown, reporting a 43.6 per cent dive in footfall for the month.
Meanwhile, retail parks saw footfall decrease by 23.5 per cent in March, as they benefitted from having a higher proportion of supermarket stores and their wide-open spaces made social distancing easier.
“Footfall dropped in early March, as many people chose to stay at home and reduce the risk of catching coronavirus,” BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said.
“This downwards trajectory was accelerated by the government’s decision to put the UK on lockdown, with footfall dropping by over 80 per cent on the previous year in the weeks following these measures.
“Retail is facing an unprecedented challenge, particularly those geared towards high street sales.”
On Thursday, the BRC revealed that retail sales declined at the worst rate on record in March as total sales slid by 4.3 per cent year-on-year.
ShopperTrak retail consultant Andy Sumpter said: “The way in which we shop has dramatically changed, with consumers shopping by themselves – causing an artificial drop in footfall numbers – and retailers limiting shopper numbers in store.
“In these unprecedented times, I applaud those retailers and store teams who are continuing to serve us.”
with PA Wires
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