‘Retailer resurgence’ continues through April

Retail footfall across the UK has continued its recent resurgence with Easter fortnight bringing shoppers to the high street in force compared to 2014. Ipsos Retail Performance, the global retail and footfall consultant compiles the Retail Traffic Index (RTI), which is derived from the number of individual shoppers entering over 4,000 non-food retail stores across the UK. It found that throughout April, average weekly store traffic was 3.1% stronger than in March. This was helped by a positive Easter period, with the fortnight 3.3% busier than in 2014. April as a whole ended four consecutive months of year-on-year growth, largely due to the earlier timing of Easter fortnight compared to 2014. With the removal of Easter’s impact, the 'deseasonalised' data indicates year-on-year growth in the month at about 0.6%. The absolute year-on-year comparison for the month was -1.3%. Time Denison, director of retail intelligence at Ipsos Retail Performance, said: “The numbers of people out shopping has remained buoyant. The timing of Easter damaged the year-on-year headline figure for the month, but the underlying trend is still very positive. “The health of the economy is delivering shoppers with well-being in the wallet. Together with enduring consumer confidence, the public’s shopping sentiment and level of activity is improving every month.” However, Ipsos said "wide variations" in footfall across different areas of the country remain a "consistent trend", with the South West of England and Wales suffering the greatest fall in year-on-year figures. But holiday regions are the most susceptible to changes in the timing of Easter, and it is thought the -8.1% year-on-year fall will correct itself in May. Denison expected the pace of the high street to increase further, citing the formation of a majority government in the recent General Election as an alleviating factor in "fears that retailers may have had of political and economic uncertainty". He added: “All the metrics concerning the state of the economy continue to look good for the immediate future, so there is nothing to suggest that shoppers will slow down in the coming months.” Footfall change: April 2015 vs April 2014 Scotland & Northern Ireland +0.3% North of England +4.9% The Midlands -0.7% South West England & Wales -8.1% South East England & London -4.5% Footfall change: April 2015 vs March 2015 Scotland & Northern Ireland +5.8% North of England +1.7% The Midlands +2.2% South West England & Wales -+2.8% South East England & London +4.6%