(Alliance News) - UK retail footfall recovered somewhat in April, data on Thursday showed, as high streets in England became bustling spaces once again after lockdown curbs allowed non-essential shops to reopen.
According to the latest monitor from retail insights firm Springboard, footfall was 33% lower in April compared to two years earlier. In March, footfall was 55% below pre-pandemic levels.
Compared to 2019, April's footfall declined 42% in high streets, 39% in shopping centres and 7.4% in retail parks.
"The results reflect our predictions for a substantial boost to footfall following retail reopening, and is evidence of significant pent-up consumer demand for bricks and mortar stores," Springboard said.
Non-essential shops were allowed to reopen in England on April 12.
Springboard noted the UK high street footfall was down 65% from pre-pandemic levels in the first week of April, before easing to an average decline of 32% in the following weeks of the month.
In addition, the vacancy rate improved to 11.5% from 11.7% in January, further evidence of pent-up demand, Springboard added.
"April 2021 was most definitely a month defined by the reopening of 2021 VS 2019 non-essential retail," Springboard Marketing & Insights Director Diane Wehrle said.
"With the imminent opening of indoor hospitality in the next two weeks, we are anticipating that the gap between the level of footfall in 2019 and 2021 will narrow further, although the extent to which this occurs will be a function of the degree to which there is a return to office working, the growth in both domestic and overseas tourism in the UK and the impact on employment of the end of the furlough scheme in September."
By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com
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