// Footfall rose 9.5% on Saturday & 21.3% on Sunday against the same weekend a week earlier
// However, footfall for last week dived 81.4% against the same period last year
// Springboard warned that the Easter long weekend would be “unrecognisable”
Footfall in high streets and shopping destinations jumped last weekend as warmer weather brought more people out of their homes, according to new data.
Figures from retail experts Springboard showed that footfall rose 9.5 per cent on Saturday April 4 and 21.3 per cent on Sunday April 5, against the same weekend a week earlier.
It reported a particular spike in footfall in central London, where footfall jumped 51.4 per cent on Sunday.
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Other large cities and coastal towns also saw a jump in footfall over the weekend, with coastal locations reporting a 29.6 per cent rise in footfall on Sunday.
Nevertheless, the figures reflected a significant decline against the same weekend last year, due to the government’s social distancing instructions.
Springboard said the data is taken from markers by high streets, retail parks and shopping centres.
It said the figures do not show what people were doing on their excursions and simply record the number of people walking through these areas.
Footfall for last week – the week starting March 29 – dived 81.4 per cent against the same period last year, while it was also 31.6 per cent lower than the previous week.
High street locations saw a particularly steep drop-off, with footfall dropping 84.4 per cent against last year, while retail parks, which often have large supermarkets, saw a 71.5 per cent decline.
With the closure of all but essential stores, Springboard warned that the Easter long weekend, which is often an important period for retailers, would be “unrecognisable”.
“It is impossible to draw any real comparison between Easter this year and Easter in preceding years – we have never been beset with such swathing restrictions that have impacted the entire economy and restricted spending so comprehensively,” Springboard insights director Diane Wehrle said.
with PA Wires
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