Footfall across the UK has increased by 218.2 per cent week-on-week, according to research which has tracked the number of people entering retail stores up until 10am today.

Research from Springboard shows that footfall has risen by 339.7 per cent in shopping centres, 232.8 per cent in High Streets, and 58.2 per cent in retail parks over the same time period.

The study found that overall footfall across all UK destinations is up by 505.1 per cent from 2020.

Footfall is now only 14.7 per cent lower than in 2019, with retail parks actually seeing an increase of +12.6 per cent.

The sharp rise in footfall comes after the earlier days of April demonstrated slight recovery compared to the previous month.

In March total UK footfall decreased by 68.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.

“Retailers are excited about welcoming back their customers. They have spent hundreds of millions on making their premises Covid-secure; weeks preparing shops for reopening; and countless hours training staff on the latest safety measures,” said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, over the weekend. “The three lockdowns have cost non-food stores approximately £30 billion in lost sales – and it vital that they are able to make their contribution to the UK’s economic recovery.

Dickinson added: “While we expect an initial surge in spending when shops first open, the real test will be how this holds up. Many of us will be looking forward to returning to our favourite shop in the coming weeks, and we all have a duty to keep each other safe. Everyone should be considerate and respectful to their fellow shoppers and hard-working shop staff. This way we can all enjoy shopping and support our local communities."

Share Story: