The number of empty shops across the UK hit an all-time high in April while shopper numbers bounced back to growth, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)/ Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor.

Footfall bounced back to growth in April, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Footfall and Vacancies Monitor.

11.9%

The average town centre vacancy rate for April, up from 10.9% in January and the highest since records began in July 2011

18.1%

The vacancy rate in Northern Ireland, the highest rate in the UK

7.4%

Greater London’s vacancy rate, the best performing region

10%

Scotland’s vacancy rate

17.9%

Vacancy rate in Wales

1%

The rise in footfall across the UK in April, compared to a 5.2% slump in March

3.4%

Footfall increase on the high street, compared with a “very rainy” April 2012

3%

The fall in footfall recorded in shopping centres as retail administrations disproportionatley hit malls, and shoppers’ interest in them

0.3%

The rise in shopper numbers in out-of-town developments

6.4%

The drop in footfall in Northern Ireland, “significantly lower than the UK average”

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