UK retail footfall expected to rise 4.7% over Easter

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Mar 31, 2015

The latest statistics from retail intelligence provider Springboard reveal that footfall in the UK is set to increase by 4.7% over Easter weekend.

This is because Easter falls two weeks earlier this year than last year - just after a national pay day. This is likely to lead consumers to spend more than last year over the three Easter shopping days.

Springboard also says lower inflation, evidence of pay rises across the UK, and the decline in fuel prices could leave UK consumers up to £20 to £30 per month better off.

Footfall on the high street is set to rise by 6% year-on-year, while in shopping centres it wlll grow by 4.6%. The increase will be lower in retail parks, where it is expected to rise by just 1.6% year-on-year. The footfall increase is set to be highest on Good Friday, forecast at 5.7%. Saturday's footfall is expected to rise by 3.9% and Easter Monday's by 4.6%.

Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said: “Last year we saw a significant decline in retail footfall over Easter Weekend (-6.4% year-on-year), and though this year we are expecting to see figures regain strength, they will still be overall below the +6.9% year-on-year growth seen in 2013. The earlier dates for the long weekend traditionally link to positive effects for retailers and with consumer confidence high, we expect shoppers to respond with their feet buoyed by the benefit of a recent pay day."