Footfall in April dropped across all retail destinations as the sector waits to see whether the month will be a precursor for the future as the cost-of-living crisis deepens.
According to the latest data from Springboard, footfall in April slipped to -15.9% below 2019 levels, down from -15.3% in the previous month.
By retail destination, footfall declined from pre-Covid levels by -18.5% on high streets, -20.3% in shopping centres and -5.3% in retail parks.
Despite the negative numbers, footfall over the Easter weekend rose 9.1% from the previous week, compared with a monthly week-on-week average drop of -1.1%.
The data also found sales in bricks-and-mortar stores remained positive on pre-Covid levels, which Springboard said shows “consumers who remain insulated from the increasing cost-of-living pressures are currently still spending”.
In-store sales across key retail categories that were up from 2019 were: department stores (9.7%), food and beverage (5.9%), fashion (3.7%), health and beauty (2.5%) and jewellery (16.7%).
Springboard marketing and insights director Diane Wehrle said the big test for retail will come in the next few months as the true depth of the crisis reveals itself.
“It seems that, while consumer activity in stores and destinations is not bouncing back to the pre-pandemic level, those consumers who remain insulated from increasing cost-of-living pressures are still spending, undoubtedly supported by the fact that many will have not had the opportunity to shop in store since the start of the pandemic and have additional savings available to them,” she said.
“The issue for retail is whether the result for April is a precursor to a contraction in retail consumer activity over the forthcoming months, as strong inflationary pressures start to hit household budgets that are forecast to become of far greater significance as we move through 2022.”
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