High streets hit by wet weather over Easter weekend

Britain's high streets experienced a drop in footfall of 9.6% and 6.9% respectively on Friday and Saturday, while retail shopping parks saw an increase of 5% on both days, compared with Good Friday and Easter Saturday in 2017.

Overall, average footfall declined by 2.4% and 3% on Good Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Diane Wherle, Springboard insights director, said: “Despite poor weather, shoppers have definitely been visiting retail destinations this Easter Weekend. Footfall in retail parks and shopping centres increased by 5% compared to Good Friday and Easter Saturday last year, but the persistent rain has definitely impacted high streets.”

Easter Sunday and Monday both saw a fall in visitor numbers, according to Springboard data.

Wehrle said: “Notwithstanding the rain impacting high street footfall, the results for shopping centres and retail parks will be a fillip for multiple retailers following the recent tough trading conditions.

“In overall terms, however, footfall is still down compared with Easter last year. Easter footfall also declined in the previous two years, so it is clear that Easter is becoming less important as a key retail trading period.”

Springboard data showed that footfall up to midday on Easter Monday declined, with Wherle commenting: “Despite positive results on Easter Sunday, retail footfall up to 12pm on Easter Monday has taken a tumble. This decline was undoubtedly caused by rain that hit much of the UK in the morning and also likely to be due to the fact that shoppers had already made their trips earlier in the weekend.”

Source : The Insight DIY Team 

Image : shutterstock

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